May 28th 2024.
Biswanath Rath, a talented filmmaker from Odisha, has recently made history by introducing the world to the beautiful Kotpad handloom at the renowned Cannes Film Festival. It was his first time attending this prestigious event, and he took the opportunity to unveil the posters of his upcoming feature documentary, "Habaspuri Weaving: The Second and Last Death???" The film sheds light on the rich tradition of Habaspuri handloom, which is sadly on the brink of extinction in the Kalahandi district of Odisha.
This remarkable documentary is a follow-up to Biswanath's previous acclaimed work, "Kotpad Weaving: The story of a race against time," which celebrated and preserved Odisha's unique artisan heritage. After being selected as one of the top 12 documentary projects at last year's NFDC Film Bazaar, the film has now received support from the NFDC Film Bazaar Documentary CoProduction Market 2023.
The film is being produced and creatively supervised by Biswanath under his banner, 'BnR Films,' while Mayur Mahapatra takes on the role of director. The research for the documentary was a collective effort by Biswanath, textile designer Anupriya Mridha, US-based textile enthusiast Corinn Flaherty, Mayur Mahapatra, Siddhant Swaroop, and Debasish Pratihari.
Sharing his experience at the Cannes Film Festival, Biswanath said, "It was my first time attending the Festival De Cannes, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. I had the chance to watch amazing films from all over the world, meet talented filmmakers, and promote our own culture and traditions. Although Sambalpuri handloom has been previously showcased, this was the first time that Kotpad handloom was introduced to the world at this prestigious international event."
Biswanath's efforts have not only brought recognition to the dying art of Habaspuri handloom but have also put Odisha's rich heritage in the spotlight. It is a proud moment for the state and a significant milestone in Biswanath's journey as a filmmaker.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
