Odisha CM, Guv watch documentary on Nabakalebara

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Apr 8:

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Governor SC Jamir today watched the special screening of a documentary film on Nabakalebara festival of Lord Jagannath at a city-based multiplex here.

Patnaik and Jamir were the special invitees to watch the documentary film ‘God’s Own People’.

The 78-minute duration film has been directed by Padma Shri recipient and renowned filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda and financed by state Tourism and Culture department.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Governor SC Jamir spent 18 minutes in the theatre.

The documentary film showcases the birth and death phenomenon of Lord Jagannath, Nabakalebara festival.

“The documentary film has been wonderfully made. This will act as a guide to the upcoming generation on the various aspects of world famous Nabakalebara festival celebrated in Odisha,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said.

Notably, the first Nabakalebara festival of the century was celebrated last year.

“Anybody will be proud to do a film on Lord Jagannath. I feel blessed to do the documentary film on Nabakalebara,” Nila Madhab Panda said.

Several ministers, senior officials and other dignitaries watched the movie in the theatre today.

The documentary has been shot in various locations like Nayagarh, Puri, Koraput and western Odisha. In western Odisha, the shooting was done in Patali Srikhetra in Kotsamalei village of Sonepur district, where the idol of Lord Jagannath was hidden from Muslim invaders for 144 years.

The shooting for the documentary began June last year and the film will be sent to various national and international film festivals too.