Amartya Bhattacharyya’s ‘Lahari’ Receives National Award for Best Odia Film

Bhubaneswar: Odia filmmaker Amartya Bhattacharyya’s Lahari received the National Film Award for Best Odia Film at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony held in Gujarat on September 22.

The award marks Bhattacharyya’s second National Award and his first recognition for an Odia feature film. The film’s win adds another national honour to Odisha’s regional cinema, placing its story of friendship, fatherhood and self-discovery on the national stage.

Directed by Bhattacharyya, Lahari is set against Odisha’s eco-tourism landscapes and follows an emotional journey centred on human relationships and personal transformation. The film also explores changing social realities through its visual storytelling.

Produced by Jhilik Bhattacharjee under the banner of Jhilik Motion Pictures, the film features Choudhury Jayaprakash Das, Choudhury Bikash Das, Dipanwit Dashmohapatra, child artiste Smruti Ranjan Mahala, Susant Misra, Swastik Choudhury and Zeinab Doer in key roles.

Bhattacharyya handled several aspects of the film’s creative process, serving as its director, writer, cinematographer and editor. He also wrote the lyrics.

The film’s music was composed by Kisaloy Roy, with vocals by Gaurav Anand and Navya Jaity. Sound design was handled by Anindit Roy and Adeep Singh Manki.

The National Film Awards ceremony was held at Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22, where President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards. Veteran actor Anant Nag was also conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 at the ceremony.

For Lahari, the National Award brings wider recognition to an Odia film that combines Odisha’s landscapes with an intimate exploration of relationships, identity and emotional change.