Bhubaneswar: Odia film ‘Lahari’ has won the National Film Award for Best Odia Film at the 72nd National Film Awards. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced the awards in New Delhi on Saturday.
The film is directed by award-winning filmmaker Amartya Bhattacharyya and produced by actor Jhilik Bhattacharjee. The honour marks a major milestone for ‘Lahari’, which has already received international recognition through screenings at several prestigious film festivals across the world.
‘Lahari’ is a first-of-its-kind project for Odia cinema. The film features artistes from 15 countries. It is the first Odia film to bring together such a diverse international cast and crew, while remaining deeply rooted in Odisha’s language, culture and storytelling tradition.
The makers have described it as a truly global cinematic venture that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries. Director Amartya Bhattacharyya said this is his second national award. He added that it is the first national award for an Odia film.
The film also features exceptional performances by Choudhury Jayaprakash Das and Choudhury Bikash Das who have delivered notable roles, while all other actors have also given strong performances.
Chief Minister Mohan Majhi extended best wishes to the entire team of the movie.
“I am extremely delighted to learn that ‘Lahari’ has been nominated for the 72nd National Film Awards as the best Odia feature film. This success has given our art, culture, and the rich tradition of Odia cinema another distinct recognition at the national level,” Majhi wrote on ‘X’.
“My heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the producer, director, artists, and the entire team of Lahari,” he stated.
