Odisha’s Subhash Sahoo wins Filmfare Award for Kill

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s pride Subhash Sahoo, one of the most acclaimed sound designers and filmmakers from the state, has brought double glory home. After winning the National Award for his directorial venture Mo Bou, Mo Gaon (My Mother, My Village), Sahoo has now bagged the prestigious Filmfare Award for Best Sound Design for the Hindi action thriller Kill.

“Feeling blessed! This year has brought recognition from IFFA, National Awards, and now Filmfare. Grateful for the universe’s kindness and love,” an elated Sahoo shared.

Kill: Action on a moving train

Directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat and produced by Dharma Productions and Sikhya Entertainment, Kill has been hailed as one of India’s most intense action thrillers in recent years. Inspired by a real-life train robbery, the film showcases a young NSG commando taking on dacoits aboard a moving train.

What set Kill apart was not just its choreography of raw, hand-to-hand combat, but also its hard-hitting soundscape. The brutal clashes, metallic clangs and nerve-jarring effects designed by Subhash Sahoo elevated the tension to another level, earning him the Filmfare honour.

Mo Bou, Mo Gaon: A son’s tribute to his mother and village

Away from the adrenaline rush of Bollywood, Sahoo turned his camera towards home with Mo Bou, Mo Gaon. The Odia non-feature film, shot over 18 years in his native Kendrapara district, is a personal journey into his roots.

The documentary focuses on his mother, Sachitra — fondly known as “Seba Bou” — who dedicated her life to teaching village girls traditional skills, values, and the fading art form of Kandana. The film not only highlights her contribution but also reflects the cultural changes sweeping rural Odisha under the pressures of modernization.

Recognised with the National Award in the non-feature category, the film has also been screened at prestigious platforms like Indian Panorama 2024.

Odisha’s creative force

Subhash Sahoo’s rare versatility — from designing soundscapes for mainstream Hindi cinema to directing intimate, culture-rooted Odia documentaries — has made him one of Odisha’s strongest creative voices on the national stage. His double victory at the National Film Awards and Filmfare Awards in the same year stands as a proud moment for the state’s art and cinema fraternity.