Bhubaneswar:8/11/25:The Odia non-feature film Mahima Alekha has been selected for the prestigious Indian Panorama section at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), marking a significant achievement for the Odia film industry. Mahima Alekha, directed by award-winning filmmaker Himanshu Sekhar Khatua., It is interesting to note that Mr Khatua debuted as a director through the odia feature film Swunya Swrup, which was produced by journalist Late Alaya Mohanty was based on the Mahima Cult.
Himansu Khatua states in an interview, “A few months after coming out of FTII pursuing a diploma in Sound, I wanted to become a sanyasi, so for that I visited Joranda in Dhenkanal, the religious headquarters of Mahima dharma, to get an idea of how sadhus live in modern days. After spending a few days there and interacting with them, I thought I should make a movie on the shunya or void philosophy of the Mahima cult. I believe that a filmmaker should react to his surroundings, and that is the whole idea behind the making of “Shunya Swaroop”(1996). The Film also got the National Award for the Best Regional Film in Odia.
Mahima Alekha, produced by Dr. Iti Samant and Dr. Snehashree Swain, explores the philosophy, rituals, and practices of the Mahima cult, a spiritual tradition deeply rooted in Odisha’s cultural and religious landscape.
The film highlights the unique spiritual practices of the Mahima cult, which emphasizes the worship of a single, formless deity known as ‘Alekh’ or the ‘Invisible One.’ The movement teaches values such as self-discipline, moral integrity, and compassion, providing a profound insight into Odisha’s rich cultural heritage.