This year a record number of films from Odisha are competing for the 63rd National film awards organised by the Directorate of Film Festival. Five films in different genres in the race are Pahadra luha,Tulsi Apa, Antralin , Adi Bhumi and Kehi Nuhe Kahara.
‘Pahadra luha’, directed by Sabyasachi Mohapatra, revolves around the sorrows and sufferings of Paraja tribe in Koraput. The film stars Swati Ray, Soumen Pujari and lochani Bag are in the lead. The story of Adi Bhumi revolves around hypocritical latches within the policy created deliberately to facilitate vested interest. The core theme of the film is unfair distribution of resources resulting in imbalanced socio-economic growth. Manoj Mishra, lipi, Nimisha lumba, Mangal, Anil Dhir and Saumen Pujhari are the lead characters. Adi Bhumi though has been produced by an Odia producer but the film also is being made in Hindi directed by its producer Satyabrata Dwibedy.
Directed by celebrated Odia filmmaker Amiya Patnaik, Tulsi Apa is based on the real life story of social activist Padmashree Tulasi Munda, who was born and brought up in a tribal region of Odisha. ‘Tulasi Apa’ (Sister Tulasi) encapsulates the essence of Tulasi Munda’s life. It enumerates her struggle and highlights her achievements. The movie, which is Odisha’s first biopic, has been produced by Anupam Patnaik. The cast of the film includes Barsha Nayak, Madhusmita, lochani Bag, Premanjan Parida, Mamata Panda and Sujit Paikray. The film under the banner of AP Productions has been shot at various locations in Keonjhar, where the renowned activist and Padmashree awardee was born.
Breaking away from convention, director Manas Sahoo has tried his hand at making a film on autism which is titled ‘Antralin’. The stars are Soumya Ranjan Das, lipsa Mishra, Bijya Mohanty and Dharatri Khandual. Director Susant Mishra again appears on the screen after ‘Capital I’ in a special role. Sarojini Patyat has penned the story.
The only commercial film “Kehi Nuhen Kahara’ produced by Akshya Parija and directed by Susant Mani is also in the race of the national award. The film stars Elina Samantray and Abhishek Rath who are in the lead roles. The movie also boasts of the presence of heavyweights like Siddhant Mahapatra, Bijay Mohanty, Kuna Tripathy, Samaresh Routray, Nitu Singh, Pinky Pradhan and Choudhury Jayaprakash Das. The music of the movie has been composed by Biswarup while Bapu Goswami has penned the lyrics and the story writer is Akshya Parija.
The plot of the film is a struggle of an NRI orphan girl to uphold the good image of her father. But at the same time she shows the biggest courage to fight against terrorism and doesn’t hesitate to kill her father who is involved in terrorism. Every individual has the social responsibility for protection of our country and human beings, thus goes the message.
