9 National Award-Winning Odia Movies To Watch On Utkal Dibasa

Celebrate this Utkal Dibasa with these award-winning Odia movies that have won acclaim, love and praise from both state and national audiences.

Pratikshya (2022): Based on the book written by Gaurahari Das, this movie showcases the struggles of unemployment. It won the National Film Award in 2023.

Kalira Atita (2021): Director Nila Madhab Panda tries to capture the emotional hazards of climate change through a man who became the victim of a cyclone losing his family and village. The movie bagged the National Award for Best Odia film at the 67th National Film Awards, Delhi.

Sala Budha Ra Badla (2020): Directed by Sabyasachi Mohapatra, this movie depicts the complex emotions of humans with a brief glimpse into authentic Odia culture won the national awards for best Odia film in 2021.

Srikshetra Ru Sahijata: Ashutosh Pattnaik’s 35-minute long documentary film, following the age-old open theatre of Puri bagged the national award in the Best Art and Culture Film category in 2021.

Hello Arsi (2018): Directed by Sambit Mohanty this movie brings two strangers together who talk their hearts out on the topics of industrialization and its result in human alienation. This movie bagged the national award in multiple categories.

Pahada Ra Luha (2015): Directed by Sabyasachi Mohapatra, this Sambalpuri language feature film depicts the displacement of the Paraja tribe in Koraput due to industrialization winning the 63rd National Film Award for Best Feature Film in the Odia category.

Aadim Vichar (2014): Sabyasachi Mohapatra’s comedy-drama movie revolves around the simple lives of tribal people and how their lives become complicated when they come in contact with educated people. The movie bagged a national award for Best Odia Film in 2015.

Puja Pain Phulatie (2007): Gadadhar Puty directed this movie based on an unlikely friendship between two girls with different social statuses that bagged the National Film Awards for Best Feature Film in Odia in 2006.

Kathantara (2007): Director Himansu Khatua brings the 1999 super cyclone’s effect on screen with actors like Anu Choudhury, Bedaprasad Das, and Bhaswati Basu, among others, bagging a national award in 2005.