Minimalist Pictures

08/08/2023

We started working on this film five years ago, in that time, all of us have gone through intense periods of change, which also includes a global pandemic. We hope that you have gone through great changes and overcome them as well, and we are glad that in this time you have managed to stay in touch and have been patient enough to look forward to our work.

Our film, 'Whose Dreams, Whose City (କାହା ସ୍ଵପ୍ନ, କାହା ସହର)' takes a flagship state building called 'Krushi Bhawan (Centre for Farmers)' sitting at the heart of Bhubaneswar as its focus. It uses that to explore the aspects of artisanship, agriculture, and public art/architecture in a city, things that the building claims to celebrate. In this narrative of the Building and the City, we try to trace the empty spaces, questions, and squabbles between a people and their nation, art and life, tradition and modernity.

After its film festival run, the film releases on 11th August (THIS FRIDAY), 2023 on both the Film Society of Bhubaneswar and our own Youtube channel. We made no profits from the film, neither do we expect the film to make any profits from viewership, all we hope for is your time and attention to watch it, and let us know what you feel. Your encouragement will also mean that we find the much needed closure for this project, and move on to do more interesting films (which we will try making regardless).

Looking forward to the weekend with great anticipation.

31/05/2021

Trailer for our film. We are happy to have collaborated with Film Society of Bhubaneswar to make this possible.

'କାହା ସ୍ଵପ୍ନ, କାହା ସହର? (Whose Dreams, Whose City?)' is a 2021 Odia Independent documentary that takes a flagship state building called 'Krushi Bhawan (Center for Farmers)' sitting at the heart of Bhubaneswar as its focus. It uses that to explore the aspects of artisanship, agriculture, and public art/architecture in a city, things that the building claims to celebrate. In this narrative of the Building and the City, we try to trace the empty spaces, questions, and squabbles between a people and their nation, art and life, tradition and modernity.

Wishing everyone strength, solidarity, and resilience in these times.

'କାହା ସ୍ଵପ୍ନ, କାହା ସହର? (Whose Dreams, Whose City?)' is a 2021 Odia Independent documentary that takes a flagship state building called 'Krushi Bhawan (Cente...

31/05/2021

We understand that we are perhaps the most inactive, and inconsistent page on Facebook. Like many, the people who run this page are often grief stricken, and victims of the times we live in. They struggle to live and find work, whilst forgetting about this page. We hope that you who are reading this are still safe, while all reality around us is crumbling.

So this is just to reiterate that we are alive. That whenever we find time from the suffering that life is, we still try to make something happen. Since the things we try are often independent, under funded, and in the long form, it takes much more time. We don't expect our viewers to keep up with our lethargy. But nonetheless, this is for everyone who still cares, we have made a documentary film. Here are its posters. It's a film on a city, its public art/architecture, a decorated building that sits at its centre, the artisans who made it happen, and the farmers to whom it is dedicated.

Whose Dreams, Whose City? | କାହା ସ୍ଵପ୍ନ, କାହା ସହର? | 2021

04/05/2019

In our hour of need, these contributions will go a long way in a strenuous restoration process.

Department of General Administration (CMRF), Government of Odisha Joint Secretary Department of General Administration (CMRF), Odisha Secretariat, Bhubaneswar, 751001, Odisha 0674-254369

06/03/2019

Late again. But important to us nonetheless. Humour at a time of madness.

A Kashmiri school boy’s drawing. In 1995, when France set off nuclear tests in the South Pacific, the French ambassador to New Zealand declared, “I don’t like that word ‘bom…

30/12/2018

After one long year, 'Al Kabirah' is finally up and running on YouTube. It's available in the public domain now, where we believe it always belonged. Its fate and everything that has gone behind it is up for you people to decide. Kindly share it with your friends, family, and acquaintances if you like the film. Give us your feedback (appreciations and criticisms included). Hope you like it, have a brilliant year ahead. We remember the beloved, revolutionary, Bengali filmmaker on this day, Mrinal Sen, who passed away in the morning, owing to his ailments.

Al Kabirah (2017) | The Great; Languages- Odia, Hindustani.

Set in Cuttack, 'Al Kabirah' is a 2017 independent short film made in Odisha, India. It deals with the politics of seclusion, and its moral complicacies. It does so from the perspective of an ethically conflicted criminal, reflecting upon a story from his childhood, over the course of 24 hours in his life.

The following cut of the film is the final version, and is 2 minutes shorter than the festival version. Find all details regarding the film below the attached YouTube link.

Thanks and regards,
Minimalist Pictures

Al Kabirah (The Great), 2017 | Languages- Odia, Hindustani, English. Set in Cuttack, 'Al Kabirah' is a 2017 independent short film made in Odisha, India. It ...

27/12/2018

'Al Kabirah' our most awaited, profound mess is coming to YouTube on 30th December (coming Sunday). This comes after one year after the film's completion and its bittersweet journey in the festival circuit. We sincerely wish all of us have a decent next year, and you all don't hate the film. Presenting to you this tip of the hat poster, which comes from our love for Chinese restaurants in Cuttack, and is inspired by one of the scenes in the film. Designed by the one and the only, Sankalp Mohanty.

In the past few days we have put together a 27 minute version of the film, which is 3 minutes shorter than the original. We believe this is the most complete version of the film. So, even for those few who have watched the film before, we hope this will be a comparatively fresh experience.

19/04/2018

A part essay, part article on Qawwali, The Dream Journey and its symbiotic relationship with the human condition in India and Pakistan. For takers of Art and lovers of Music, we hope, it is worth your time.
- From the laziest people on Earth

Also, a little sharing does no harm. The people who are the subject of this piece, are doing some incredible work of preservation. It's important that their work reaches as many people as possible. It would be a privilege if it happens in a little way through our little effort.

I have dreamt of a land with a piece of me, I have never been there, but I like dreaming of it. I love how unproductive afternoons are. For someone with the time and privilege that I have, a lazy, …

25/03/2018

'Al Kabirah' will be screened in the historic film theatre, Nandan, Kolkata, on the 2nd of April (Monday) at the prestigious South Asian Short Film Festival, 2018 along with some of the best short films and documentaries of 2017 from South Asia.

It would be a pleasure to have our friends over for the screening in Kolkata.

Congratulations, team. Suchishraba Sarangi, Deepak Kumar Padhi, Prayas Mohanty, Manas Ranjan Sahoo, Abhishek Parija, Vishal Nayak, Dipanwit Dashmohapatra, Babul Pradhan, Pranaya Padhy and Sakar Khanu.

28/02/2018

Festival #02 for 'Al Kabirah', and a voyage to our neighbourhood.

Officially selected in the Panorama section for the South Asian Short Film Festival 2018, Kolkata: SASFF, organised by the Federation of Film Societies of India - FFSI (Eastern Region), to be held from 30th March - 9th April in Calcutta. Screening date, venue and other details shall be shared in due time.

07/02/2018

This is the very first recognition for the film, in what has been a long journey of sincere waiting. It seems, we all have to wait for our song.

'Al Kabirah' has been officially selected in the 'Students' Shorts' section of the prestigious 9th Indian Film Festival of Bhubaneswar - IFFB 2018, coming up this February (14th-20th). It is an absolute privilege to share the screen space alongside some of the most exciting Indian films from the year 2017. Be there to support, cherish and celebrate the Cinema of this country, the Cinema that you don't see in your nearest screens, the Cinema that needs, deserves and demands your time. On this occasion, we present to you this alternate Minimalist Poster for the film.

Poster Credits:
Design- Deepak Kumar Padhi
Concept- Abhishek Parija

Congratulations team. Vishal Nayak, Anubhav Agarwal, Sakar Khanu, Dipanwit Dashmohapatra, Prayas Mohanty, Sattwik Satyakam Devta, Deepak Kumar Padhi, Manas Ranjan Sahoo, Suchishraba Sarangi, Prasanjit Singh, Pintu Mishra, Nelson Liao, Susanta Kumar Das, Chitta Ranjan Das, Babul Pradhan, Pranaya Padhy, Abhishek Parija.

23/01/2018

The Indian Film Festival of Bhubaneswar - IFFB, 2018 is happening from the 14th of February to the 20th of February next month.

This is a special festival, not merely because of its exclusivity as a rare film festival in the region, more than that, it is a fruition of sincere patronage to cinema. The organising force behind the festival is the enduring 12 year old, Film Society of Bhubaneswar, which continues to have regular screenings of films from around the world every month in Bhubaneswar to this day. It is a festival that has been conceived, shaped and brought into reality through an ethos that is organic to the spirit of both Cinema and Odisha. It is our responsibility as a community to support this initiative, attend it with full vigour and celebrate Cinema.

Beyond all moral and cultural obligations, Art has always made life easier, so be there for yourself, not for anyone or anything else.

**More information on the page shared below.

This is the official page of Indian Film Festival of Bhubaneswar (IFFB)