Odisha, Bhubaneswar, 9th October, 2025: In its continued journey of spotlighting bold, original narratives from Odisha, AAO NXT, Eastern India’s leading OTT platform, proudly announces its latest original feature, Bhabantara, directed by celebrated filmmaker Anant Mahapatra. Known for weaving layered stories with emotional depth, Mahapatra returns with a powerful tale of love, sacrifice, and fate a film that promises to strike a deep chord with audiences while reaffirming AAO NXT’s commitment to bringing Odia storytelling to the global stage.
At the heart of Bhabantara lie three characters Sritam, Srabani, and Millan bound together in the most unexpected and challenging of circumstances. Sritam and Srabani marry, but Srabani’s heart remains with Millan, the man she truly loved. In an act of quiet resilience, Sritam agrees to play the role of a husband for the sake of his parents’ happiness, even as his wife refuses to let go of her past. When Srabani becomes a mother, the birth of a son brings newfound joy to the family, creating a bond that seems unbreakable. But Millan, reappearing in her life under the name “Subham,” stirs old emotions, forcing Srabani into a choice between the life she has built and the love she cannot forget. The story unfolds as a poignant exploration of duty, relationships, and the eternal pull of destiny.
Guided by Anant Mahapatra’s direction, Bhabantara combines theatre’s emotional richness with cinematic vision. The screenplay and dialogue, written by Anant Mahapatra and Dillip Choudhury, along with the story by Ajaya Mohapatra, form the backbone of this narrative. The film’s soul is elevated by the stirring music of Sakti Prasad Mishra, complemented by lyrics from the renowned Devdas Chhotray and rendered beautifully through the voice of Susmita Das.
The ensemble cast brings together some of Odisha’s finest talents: Abhishek Giri, Suryamayee Mohapatra, Bulu Panda, Saroj Nanda, Binayak Mishra, Rabi Narayan Tripathy, Mamata Mohanty, Sabita Sahoo, Pradipta Swain, Priya Bisoi, Suresh Sahoo, Umaa Saha, and Vedanshi Pattanaik. Their performances give life to characters who are flawed, vulnerable, and deeply human making Bhabantara a story that resonates across generations.
On the technical front, the film’s visual language is captured by Dhrubananda Panda (DOP), while the artistic world is shaped by Linkan Pattanaik (Art Director). The look and feel of the characters are crafted by Samaresh Pal (Make-up) and Jogi Sena (Costume Designer). The film’s editing by Biswajit Pradhan and Satyajit Pradhan ensures a seamless rhythm, while Anup Mukherjee’s sound mixing adds the sonic texture that makes the drama even more immersive. Supporting the vision is Ajaya Mohapatra (Associate Director), ensuring the story flows with consistency and emotional weight. Produced by Utkal Rangamanch Trust, the film carries forward a tradition of cultural excellence rooted in Odisha’s creative heritage.
Kaushik Das, Founder & CEO of AAO NXT, said: “Bhabantara is a beautiful reflection of life’s most difficult choices where love, responsibility, and destiny collide. For us at AAO NXT, it represents exactly the kind of storytelling we believe in: deeply rooted in Odia culture, yet universal in its themes. We are honored to collaborate with a visionary like Anant Mahapatra, whose craft has shaped Odisha’s creative landscape for decades. With this release, we continue our mission of giving Odia cinema the global recognition it deserves.”
Since its launch, AAO NXT has steadily built a reputation as a platform that values originality, authenticity, and innovation in regional content. From award-winning films to daring new originals, it has emerged as the cultural voice of Eastern India in the digital era. With Bhabantara, the platform once again brings together timeless storytelling and contemporary cinematic craft.
The film will stream exclusively on AAO NXT, staying true to the platform’s ethos of being “all about originals.”
