Odisha is celebrated worldwide for its rich and diverse textile traditions. As part of the National Handloom Day 2026 celebrations, on 7th August 2026, Ritupriya Productions, in association with BnR Films and MNM Entertainment, unveiled the Official Poster of the much-awaited Odia documentary “Habaspuri Weaving: The Second and Last Death ???”.
The documentary has been produced by award-winning filmmaker Atish Kumar Rout and directed by acclaimed directors Biswanath Rath and Mayur Mahapatra.
‘Habaspuri Weaving’ explores the acclaimed yet endangered Habaspuri handloom tradition of Kalahandi district—its history, its present struggles, and the possible pathways for revival. This documentary is the spiritual successor to Biswanath Rath’s internationally celebrated film ‘Kotpad Weaving: The Story of a Race Against Time’ (commissioned by DD–PSBT), which has received 60 awards and accolades, screened in 11 countries, and brought much-needed global attention and recognition to Kotpad handloom.
With ‘Habaspuri Weaving’, writer-director Biswanath Rath takes his second major step toward documenting the lives of Odisha’s artisans and examining the challenges and solutions for reviving one of India’s timeless textile traditions. This time, he is joined by acclaimed director Mayur Mahapatra and renowned producer Atish Kumar Rout, who together strengthen the creative and production vision behind the project.
The film has already earned international attention, having been selected as one of the final 12 documentary project proposals out of 98 international entries at the NFDC Film Bazaar Documentary Co-Production Market 2023.
Adding to this journey of pride, the first‑look poster of ‘Habaspuri Weaving’ was unveiled at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, where filmmaker Biswanath Rath created history by showcasing Odisha’s handloom legacy on the global stage—further strengthening Odisha’s presence in the global cultural landscape.
The research for the documentary was carried out in multiple phases between 2019 and 2024. Initial research began in August 2019, led by filmmaker Biswanath Rath, textile designer Anupriya Mridha, and US-based library director Corinn Flaherty. The COVID19 pandemic caused a temporary halt. Research resumed in August 2023, with contributions from Mayur Mahapatra, Siddhant Swaroop and Debasish Pratihari, under Biswanath’s guidance. This extensive research forms the backbone of the documentary’s authenticity and depth.
Co-produced by Supriya Rout, the film’s creative team includes Siddhant Swaroop as Chief Assistant Director, Debasish Pratihari as Assistant Director, Mayur Mahapatra as Director of Photography, and Dilesshwar Pradhan as Sound Designer. Ajit Narayan Dash has handled the Editing and DI, while the background score is being composed by acclaimed Music Composer Priyabrata Panigrahi.
Following the footsteps of ‘Kotpad Weaving’, this documentary will be showcased at film festivals across India and overseas, before being publicly released on TV, OTT, and digital platforms. BnR Films, known for its award-winning projects and global festival presence, will oversee the film’s international festival strategy and digital distribution.
Producer Atish Kumar Rout shares, “After the remarkable success of the Odia mid‑length fiction film ‘ChaariKaandha’, this documentary marks my second collaboration with Biswanath. I am truly honoured to be part of a project that seeks to revive one of Odisha’s most unique yet near‑extinct textile traditions from the Kalahandi region. At Ritupriya Productions, our guiding philosophy has always been local stories with global resonance. Through this documentary, we aim to showcase the cultural richness of Odisha—and India—to audiences across the world.”
Director Biswanath Rath says, “Ever since its inception in 2019, this documentary has been a heartfelt dream project for our team. It represents our humble attempt to create awareness about the beautiful yet lesser-known ‘Habaspuri handloom tradition of Kalahandi—an art form that deserves revival, recognition, and respect. With the grace of Lord Jagannath, the poster has received tremendous response from our audience and fans. We hope this film succeeds in raising meaningful awareness about the exquisite Habaspuri handloom tradition, helping open new pathways for its revival and longterm preservation.”
Director Mayur Mahapatra says, “We are truly delighted to see how instantly the poster’s visual identity has resonated with viewers, creating an immediate and meaningful connection. Our film journeys into the heart of one of Odisha’s forgotten weaving clusters. It exposes how rapid industrialisation, lack of financial support, and changing times threaten to permanently silence the iconic handlooms of Habaspuri weavers.”
The launch of the official poster of ‘Habaspuri Weaving: The Second and Last Death ???’ marks a powerful step toward preserving Odisha’s textile heritage and bringing global attention to the Habaspuri handloom tradition. With a strong creative team, extensive research, and the backing of three respected production houses, the documentary promises to be a landmark contribution to India’s cultural cinema.
Founded by producer Atish Kumar Rout, ‘Ritupriya Productions’ is known for socially relevant and culturally rich films such as ‘ChaariKaandha’ (written-directed by Biswanath), ‘Bhaunri’, ‘Daalcheeni’, ‘Pratibada’, and the widely acclaimed 2024 Odia film ‘Vote’. Founded by award-winning filmmaker Biswanath Rath, ‘BnR Films’ has represented Odisha/India in global film festivals for over a decade, with more than 640 international awards across its projects. Led by director Mayur Mahapatra, ‘MNM Entertainment’ is known for its strong cinematic vision and acclaimed works including ‘Baida’.
