Bhubaneswar: ‘Lahari’, directed by award-winning filmmaker Amartya Bhattacharyya and produced by actor Jhilik Bhattacharjee, has won National Film Award for Best Odia Film at the 72nd National Film Awards announced by the ministry of information and broadcasting in New Delhi on Saturday.The honour marks a major milestone for the film, which has already garnered international recognition through screenings at several prestigious film festivals across the world.A first-of-its-kind project for Odia cinema, Lahari features artistes from 15 countries, making it 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 Bhattacharyya said this was his second national award and the first for an Odia film. “It instils confidence in cinema as an art form and I feel this award will encourage those who dream to make different kinds of films that don’t obey the conventions of mainstream. Such awards keep our dreams alive,” he said. He, however, resented that the film was ignored at the Odisha state film awards.“I am particularly happy for my team because this film has exceptional performances by Choudhury Jayaprakash Das, Choudhury Bikash Das and all other actors. It also has some stunningly beautiful music by Kisaloy Roy and sound design by Anindit Roy and Adeep Singh Manki. This award is for every bit of passion and hard work that has gone into the making of this film,” he said.The film explores universal themes of friendship, fatherhood, personal growth and traditional livelihoods amidst the invasion of urban capitalism and eco-tourism, weaving an emotionally resonant narrative that has found appreciation both in India and abroad.The cast also includes Dipanwit Dashmohapatra, Jhilik Bhattacharjee, Babushan (in guest appearance), child artiste Smruti Ranjan Mahala, Susant Misra, Swastik Choudhury and Zeinab Doer.Written by Bhattacharyya, who is known for his experimental and visually distinctive filmmaking, Lahari has been praised for pushing the boundaries of Odia cinema while retaining its regional identity.
