Odia films attract large crowds during raja festival
This year, that has changed dramatically.
"As someone who grew up watching Raja releases every year, it feels great to finally see the halls packed again. We want to see stories in our language, about our culture, and this year's films gave us just that," said Rashmi Nayak, a 22-year-old student.
Three Odia films released during Raja—'Ananta', based on Fakir Mohan Senapati's story, 'Bou, Butu, Bhuta', a horror comedy, and 'First Love', a romantic drama—struck the right chord with viewers, offering a mix of emotion, humour, and cultural relevance.
Theatre owners say the box office response has been overwhelming.
"This is the best Raja season we've had in the last 10 years. Every show is running full. People are coming in festive attire, clicking selfies, and turning movie outings into a celebration again," said Prakash Panda, manager of a popular cinema hall in Bhubaneswar.
Veteran filmmaker and producer Sabyasachi Mohapatra said, "This kind of excitement reminds me of the days when people queued for hours to buy tickets. We feared losing our audience, but this trend proves they are ready to return—if we give them strong content."
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