When Pushkara was named Best Odia Feature Film at the 71st National Film Awards, it marked more than a cinematic victory. It became a moment of collective pride for Odisha, its people, language, and enduring cultural legacy, affirming Odia cinema’s place on the national stage.

For decades, filmmakers from the state have told stories shaped by soil, scripture, sea, and sentiment. With Pushkara, one such narrative crossed regional borders, proving that authenticity, when rendered with artistic integrity, speaks universally.

A National Honour, Shared by a State

Regarded as India’s highest recognition for cinematic excellence, theNational Film Awardscelebrate films of artistic merit and cultural relevance. Pushkara won the Best Odia Feature Film award for 2023, with the winners announced on August 1, 2025, by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in New Delhi.

The ceremony, held on September 23, 2025, at Vigyan Bhavan, saw President Droupadi Murmu confer the Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus Award). Director Subhranshu Das and Litisha Mangat Panda, Business Head of OTV Network/Tarang Cine Productions, received the honour on behalf of the film, an acknowledgement that underscored national recognition for Odia cinema.