Bhubaneswar, Jun 25: The Odisha government on Thursday announced the winners of the 36th State Film Awards, honouring excellence in cinema for the years 2023 and 2024. The awards, considered the highest recognition in the Odia film industry, celebrated both films and individual contributions across categories, officials said.

For 2023, Pushkara and My Sweet Housewife jointly won Best Film. The Best Director award went to Pinaki Singh and Shishir Kumar Sahu. Harihar Mahapatra was named Best Actor, while Naina Das Tiwari and Supriya Nayak shared the Best Actress award. Veteran actor Shyamalendu Bhattacharya was conferred the prestigious Mohan Sundar Dev Goswami Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 2024, Ashram emerged as Best Film, directed by Ashok Pati. Popular actor Babushan Mohanty was named Best Actor, whilwon Best Actress. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to senior actress Namrata Das for her enduring contribution to Odia cinema.
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Odisha Language, Literature and Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said the State Film Awards remain a vital platform to recognise and encourage creativity in the Odia film industry. He added that honouring artists across generations reflects the government’s commitment to preserving and promoting cinema as a cultural heritage.

The awards, which covers two years simultaneously, highlight the resilience and creativity of the Odia film fraternity. With recognition for both contemporary talents and veterans, the 36th edition underscores the evolving yet deeply rooted tradition of Odia cinema.