Bhubaneswar: Amartya Bhattacharyya’s ‘Lahari’ won the Best Odia Film award at the 72nd National Film Awards.
The winners were announced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Saturday.
The honour recognises the finest Odia feature film certified in 2024 and marks another important achievement for the state’s film industry.
It also adds to Bhattacharyya’s growing reputation as a filmmaker who is known for his distinctive storytelling and visually compelling narratives.
The 72nd National Film Awards recognised films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during 2024.
‘Article 370’ won Best Feature Film, while Yami Gautam was named Best Actress and Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty shared the Best Actor honour.
‘Lahari’s win is expected to further shine a spotlight on Odia cinema and its evolving storytelling traditions at the national level.
Directed by Bhattacharyya, the Odia-language film stars Ahmad Al-Ghaili, Prasanta Kumar Behera and Jhilik Bhattacharjee in prominent roles. The film has a runtime of 123 minutes and was released in 2025.
The film centres on Dinu, a fisherman from a rural village, and explores the tension between tradition and progress while delving into family relationships and changing social values.