Odisha State Film Awards: ‘Bhija Matira Swarga’ Adjudged Best Film

Odisha State Film Awards: ‘Bhija Matira Swarga’ Adjudged Best Film

The state government announced the winners of the 30th Odisha State Film Awards, 2018 in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.

‘Bhija Matira Swarga’ has been adjudged the best feature film and its producer, Akshay Parija, will receive the Mohan Sundar Dev Goswami Award, Tourism and Culture Minister Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi said at a press meet.

Mihir Das has bagged the best actor award, while Archita Sahu has won the best actress award. Manmohan Mohapatra has been selected for the best director award.

Eminent dramatist and lyricist Bijay Mishra will be conferred with the prestigious lifetime achievement Jayadev Award for his contribution to the Odia film industry.

Bijay Mishra had penned the scripts of some iconic films like ‘Jajabara’, ‘Manini’, ‘Dora’, ‘Jaga Balia’, ‘Jhilimili’, ‘Janani’, ‘Rajanigandha’, ‘Taapoi’, ‘Shree Jagannath, Jahaku Rakhibe Ananta’, ‘Lakhe Siba Puji Pachi Mu Pua’ and ‘To Kola Mo Jhulana’ among others.

He had received State Sahitya Academy Award in 1968 and 1988, Konark Samman in 1994 as well as the Kendra Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award.

Overwhelmed with the award, Bijay Mishra said, “It gives me immense happiness to learn that I have been conferred with the lifetime achievement award. I am thankful to all my admirers and the culture department for this recognition.”

Exhorting filmmakers to come up with good films, he said, “There is a lot of difference between movies made earlier and now. The story content is not good and this is why Odia films are losing audience these days. Good script and good direction make a good movie.”

Here are the winners in the other categories:

Best story writer: Niranjan Reddy (Ole Ole Dil Bole).

Best music director: Shantiraj Khosla (Feriaa).

Best playback singer (male): Karunakar (Feriaa).

Best playback singer (female): Antara Chakraborty (Saathi Tu Feriaa).

Best cinematographer: Dillip Ray (Bhija Matira Swarga).

Best lyrics: Basant Raj Samal (Saathi tu feriaa).

Best screenplay: Ashutosh Mohapatra (Bhija Matira Swarga).

Best supporting actor: Manoj Mishra (Champion).

Best supporting actress: Sibani Khara (Feriaa).

Best comedian: Rakhi (Deewana Heli To pain).

Best child artist: Sarthak Hota (Feriaa).

Best film in Tribal language: Mo Samaj.

Best costume: Prasana Sathpathy (Feriaa)

Best make up man: Samresh Pal (Dewaana Heli To Pain)

Best Choreography: Muna Babu (Feriaa)

Best Art Director: Sangram Maharana (Feriaa)

Best Sound Recordist: Nityashri Ranjan (Jibana re Chala Pathe)

Best dialogue writer: Nandalal Mohapatra (Bhija Matira Swarga).