Pushkara Wins Best Odia Film at 71st National Film Awards: A Celebration of Odisha’s Rich Culture
The 71st National Film Awards celebrated the remarkable achievement of the Odia film Pushkara, which was honored with the Best Odia Film award. This recognition marks a proud moment for the Odia film industry and highlights the growing presence of regional cinema on the national stage.
୭୧ ତମ ଜାତୀୟ ଚଳଚ୍ଚିତ୍ର ପୁରସ୍କାରରେ ‘ପୁଷ୍କରା’କୁ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଚଳଚ୍ଚିତ୍ର ପୁରସ୍କାର ମିଳିଛି। ଏହି ଅବସରରେ ପୁଷ୍କରା ଚଳଚ୍ଚିତ୍ର ତଥା ଏହା ସହ ଜଡ଼ିତ ସମସ୍ତ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିବିଶେଷଙ୍କୁ ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ ଓ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଜଣାଉଛି। ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଚଳଚ୍ଚିତ୍ର ଜଗତ ଏହିପରି ଉତ୍ତମ ଚଳଚ୍ଚିତ୍ରମାନଙ୍କ ସହିତ ଆହୁରି ଉନ୍ନତି କରୁ ବୋଲି କାମନା… pic.twitter.com/K5XRaZuA7j
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) September 24, 2025
Pushkara is a captivating film that delves into themes of faith, identity, and tradition. It tells the story of Nilakantha, who assumes the identity of Pushkara, a revered holy man. Set against the vibrant and spiritual backdrop of Puri, the film beautifully captures Odisha’s rich cultural heritage and age-old festivals, creating a narrative that resonates deeply with audiences.
Directed by Subhransu Das, Pushkara is notable for its authentic portrayal of local traditions and its emotional depth. The film features compelling performances, particularly from lead actor Sabyasachi Mishra, who brings life and nuance to the central character. The dedication of the entire team in presenting an authentic and heartfelt story has been widely praised.
Winning the National Award not only brings prestige to the makers of Pushkara but also serves as an inspiration to filmmakers across Odisha. It emphasizes the importance of telling regional stories that reflect the unique cultural fabric of the state, encouraging more filmmakers to explore and showcase Odisha’s heritage.
The success of Pushkara signals the evolving landscape of Odia cinema—one that embraces its roots while engaging a wider audience. This achievement reinforces the power of regional films to tell compelling stories that contribute richly to Indian cinema as a whole.
As Pushkara continues to receive acclaim, it paves the way for future films from Odisha to gain recognition, motivating filmmakers to delve deeper into the cultural narratives that make the state unique.