Renowned filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda, popular Koshali poet Haladhar Nag and eminent weaver Sribhas Chandra Supakar from Odisha have been chosen for Padmashree award.
While Panda was chosen for the award in the Art-Film Direction and Production category, Nag and Supakar were selected in the literature and Education and Textiles segments, respectively.
The Sonepur-born filmmaker has produced and directed over 70 movies, documentaries and short films. The 42-year-old’s movies are based on social and developmental issues.
Sixty-six-year-old Nag’s literary creations like lokgeet, Samparda and Krushnaguru have contributed a lot for promotion of the Koshali language. Impressed by his poetry, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) had filmed a documentary on his life and works.
After the age of 40, he started writing poetry in Koshali. He is from Bargarh district.
Nag’s popular works include Mahasati Urmila, Bacchhar, Tara Mandodari, Achhia, Siri Somalai, Karamsani, Rasia Kavi (biography of Tulasidas) and Prem Paechan.