Film Critic Surya Deo Dedicates National Award To Odia Cinema Journalism

Bhubaneswar: Eminent film critic and author Surya Deo, who received the special mention award at the 68th National Film Award 2020 in New Delhi on Friday, dedicated the award to Odia film journalism.

Deo won the national award for best writing on cinema for his book in Odia, ‘Kali Pain Kalira Cinema’. Speaking to media on the sideline of the award giving ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Deo said he was extremely happy that film journalism in Odisha has finally got recognition.

Dedicating the award to Odia cinema journalism, Deo said though the Odia cinema started its journey in 1936, its history has been neither written nor chronicled. “I have made an attempt to write not only the history of Odia cinema since its inception but also the factors that influenced it,” he said.

“A lot of efforts from script writing to conceptualising the characters to frames of scenes, music, technology into making a film. These factors are also influence by the prevalent conditions at the time. In my book, I have tried to analyse those influences in Odisha compared to other film industries,” the film critic said.

The book contains detailed documentation of 21 Odia classics, which included mythological, pure entertainment and parallel cinema. It also has more than 100 rare photographs and posters.