Bhubaneswar: In a star-studded evening at the Lok Seva Bhavan Convention Centre here on Friday, the ‘Mohan Sundar Deb Goswami Award’, Odisha’s highest honour for lifetime contribution to cinema, was conferred on veteran actor Shyamalendu Bhattacharya for the year 2023 and veteran actress Namrata Das for the year 2024.
The award, presented by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, carried a purse of Rs 5 lakh, a citation and a memento.
The Chief Minister also presented awards across 61 categories to artists and technicians for outstanding achievements in films released during 2023 and 2024.
While ‘Pushkara’ and ‘My Sweet Housewife’ jointly won the Best Film Award for the year 2023, ‘Ashram’ received the Best Film Award for the year 2024.
Harihar Mohapatra won the Best Actor Award for his performance in ‘Dho Re Babu Dho’ (2023) while Babushaan received the honour for his film ‘Pawar’ (2024). Naina Das Tiwari won the Best Actress Award for ‘My Sweet Housewife’ (2023), while Debjani Deghuria bagged the award for ‘Bhagia Bharija’ (2024).
For the year 2023, Pinaki Singh and Sisir Kumar Sahoo won the Best Director Award for ‘My Sweet Housewife’, and for the year 2024, Ashok Pati received the honour for directing ‘Pawar’.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said, “Odia cinema is a reflection of our state’s identity and cultural pride. To ensure its holistic growth and safeguard the interests of artists, the State Government will soon introduce a new Film Policy.”
Referring to his recent meeting with members of the Odia film fraternity on the industry’s current state and future prospects, the Chief Minister said the government is committed to protecting artists and providing technological support for the production of high-quality films.
Highlighting the success of the recently released films like ‘Daman’, ‘Pratikshya’, ‘Pushkara’, ‘Bou Buttu Bhuta’, and ‘Bara Badhu’, he said they have ushered in a ‘new dawn’ for Odia Cinema and authentic stories are always rooted in the state’s soil and culture.
Laying emphasis on the importance of technology and OTT platforms in the modern era, the Chief Minister said Odisha’s young professionals have acquired world-class expertise in cinematography, sound design, and visual effects (VFX). He said the government is working to provide international-standard training to young talent and transform Kalinga Studio into a leading digital and post-production hub, creating opportunities within the state so that aspiring professionals need not migrate elsewhere for work.
The Chief Minister urged producers to make films that blend modern storytelling with the essence of Odia society and culture, expressing confidence that audiences would return to theatres for such content. He also appealed to people to watch Odia films in cinemas, noting that every film supports the livelihoods of hundreds of unsung technicians, writers, and workers behind the scenes.
Assuring the government’s support for the industry, he said financial resources would not be a constraint and that the government remains open to constructive suggestions from stakeholders. He also warned that if Odia films are unfairly displaced from cinema halls in favour of other films, the government would take firm action, adding that it is closely monitoring the situation.
Addressing the event, Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain said the Odia film industry would play a vital role in strengthening the state’s orange economy. He announced that the Biju Pattnaik Film and Television Institute would be further strengthened to produce a skilled workforce for the industry.
He added that cinema artists contribute not only through their performances but also by preserving and promoting Odisha’s cultural heritage.
Odisha Higher Education, Sports and Youth Services, as well as Odia Language, Literature and Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said that the development of Odisha can’t be imagined without the growth of Odia Film Industry. He reiterated the government’s commitment to reviving the industry and welcomed suggestions from every artist and stakeholder.
