Odia filmmaker receives National Award for best children’s film

By Debasis Barik

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Mumbai-based Odia filmmaker Soumendra Padhi received the National Award from President Pranab Mukherjee at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Padhi got the prestigious award in the Best Children’s Film (National) Category for his debut film ‘Duronto’ at the 63rd edition of the award.

Speaking to odishatv.in after receiving the award, Padhi said, “I am very happy for the award. Duronto has been made with an honest intention of showing Budhia’s story to the world.”

This film deals with the phase of Budhia’s life when he met his coach Biranchi Das, his rise as a child prodigy and his subsequent downfall.

Pune-based child actor Mayur essays Budhia’s role while Tillotama Shome plays the boy’s mother Sukanti Singh. A major portion of the movie was shot in Bhubaneswar.
“We are planning to release the film by end of 2016 but we are looking for a suitable date to avoid a clash with other big Bollywood releases,” the filmmaker said.

Acclaimed Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpai, who plays the role of Biranchi Das (coach of Budhia Singh), said he is eagerly waiting for the film’s release this year to know people’s response to a great story.

Besides Padhi, another top filmmaker from Odisha Sabyasachi Mohapatra also received the National award in the regional film category.

Mohapatra’s film ‘Pahada Ra Luha’ (Tears of Mountain), which chronicles 25 years of the life of innocent tribals of Odisha in the backdrop of political transformations and Maoist insurgency, won as ‘Best Odia Feature Film’ at the 63rd National Film Awards.

The 63rd National film Awards were presented to Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan, Kangana Ranaut in the best actor and actress category for ‘Piku’ and Tanu Weds Manu Returns’ respectively.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali won the best director honours for his historical romance ‘Bajirao Mastani’.