Every actor, actress, producer, director and documentary maker dreams of winning a State Film Award, which was started in 1974. In 2013, only seven films out of 31 films released in 2012 participated in the competition for the award.
In 1992, the award had come under scanner due to a court stay order in a case filed by film director Hara Patnaik and actress Anita Das challenging the person included in the jury. In fact, several times the decisions of the jury have become controversial. For the year 2010, Sarat Pujari was criticised because remaining President of the Sangeet Natak Academy in the same department (Culture) he was the chairman of the jury.
The award has now again been embroiled in controversy. For the first time, no film has been selected for categories like Best Film. Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Dialogue. In 2012, the seven participating films were Nai separi kanak gori, love master, Prema sabuthu balban. Sapath, Emiti bi prema hue, Tu mo arambha tu mo sesha and Tu mo suna tu mo hira,
Barsha Priyadarshini has been selected for the Best Actress award for her performance in Tu mo arambha tu mo sesha and Sabyasachi as the Best Actor while cinematographer and director Raju Mishra has been selected for the prestigious Jayadev Award for 2012.
A gold medalist in cinematography from the FTII Pune, Raju Mishra made his first film Ulka, which is more known for its song Abhimanini e amaniya dheu. He went on to direct blockbusters like Chaka akhi sabu dekhuchi, Asuchi mo kalia suna, Pua mora kala thakura, Jor jaar mulak taar and laxmira avisar along with handling the camera.