Lahari Team Gears Up for National Film Awards in Gujarat
Bhubaneswar: The wait is almost over for the makers of Lahari, as producer Jhilik Bhattacharjee and the team prepare to receive the prestigious Best Odia Feature Film honour at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22.
Directed by Amartya Bhattacharyya and produced by Jhilik Motion Pictures, Lahari was named the Best Odia Film at the 72nd National Film Awards, with the winners announced in July.
As the team gets ready for the grand ceremony, Jhilik shared her excitement about the special occasion, saying she is “super excited” about the pre-ceremony preparations and the protocols ahead of the event.
“Pre-ceremony preparations… super excited for the protocol preparation before tomorrow’s grand event. All set for tomorrow,” Jhilik said, expressing her anticipation ahead of the ceremony.
For Jhilik, the occasion marks a defining moment in her journey as a producer. Lahari is the first film from Jhilik Motion Pictures to win the National Film Award, bringing national recognition to an Odia story rooted in the lives and struggles of rural communities. The film explores the tension between tradition and rapid commercialisation through the lives of a fisherman and a boatman.
The 72nd National Film Awards will be presented by President Droupadi Murmu at Ekta Nagar on September 22. The ceremony is significant as the National Film Awards are moving beyond Delhi, with the government announcing plans to take future editions to different states and cities.
The ceremony will also see veteran actor Anant Nag receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.
With the stage set and preparations underway, all eyes are now on September 22, when Lahari’s producer Jhilik Bhattacharjee and director Amartya Bhattacharyya will formally receive national recognition for their contribution to Odia cinema.
For the Lahari team, it is more than an award ceremony—it is a moment when an Odisha-rooted story takes centre stage on one of Indian cinema’s most prestigious platforms.