The Odyssey is a film that’s been floating in the ether for weeks — now it’s finally here, and it’s not what anyone expected. Not even the people who made it. The movie, which premiered in select Indian theatres on Thursday morning, has already sparked a quiet but fierce debate: Is this a forgotten classic rediscovered, or just another overhyped misfire? The answer, like the film itself, isn’t clear. But one thing’s certain, no one saw the Hungarian dub coming. Or the fact that it might be the only thing saving it. A few viewers have reported that the dubbed version, with its deadpan delivery and eerie synth score, turns the film into something almost surreal. Others say it’s worse than the original. No consensus. Just whispers in darkened auditoriums. And then there’s the question of why it’s playing at all. The film was never supposed to open in India. It was meant to be a festival piece, a niche release. But after a viral clip of a scene where a man stares at a clock for 17 minutes went viral on X, the distributor pulled a switch. Now it’s in 400 screens across the country. The box office numbers are underwhelming. Just ₹32 lakh in three days, but the chatter isn’t. On Reddit, threads about its “slow burn” and “existential dread” have hit 8,000 upvotes. In Mumbai, a café near Juhu has started serving “Odyssey Coffee,” named after the film’s central motif: a cup that never gets drunk from. Meanwhile, the director, an unnamed artist from Budapest, hasn’t spoken publicly. Only one thing is known: they’ve requested the film be shown without subtitles. For now, the mystery continues. The next screening is scheduled for Friday night. Whether it’s art or accident, no one’s sure. But someone’s watching.