Bhubaneswar, Jan. 25: The central government today named three Odia personalities for the Padma awards.
Odia film-maker Nila Madhab Panda and Kosali poet Haldhar Nag have been selected for the Padma Shri awards, the list of which were announced today. This apart, Sambalpur-born Sribhas Chandra Supakar, a textile designer based in Varanasi since 1959, has also been chosen for the award.
For the 42-year-old Panda, who is known for films such as I Am Kalam and Jalpari, the award will prove to be an inspiration to do better work.
"I am humbled and accept it as an honour from my motherland. Now, it is my time to give back to the society and the country," he said.
Asked about the recent award wapsi controversy, where many intellectuals and artists returned their awards in a symbolic protest against intolerance, Panda said: "The growing cultural intolerance in our country is a cause for concern, but at the same time I do not prefer to create unnecessary controversies by returning awards."
Following his last release Kaun Kitne Paani Mein, a satirical comedy on the problem of water shortage, he is working on another Hindi film on environmental and climate change.
At present, all his attention is, however, on the documentary on the Nabakalebar of Lord Jagannath and the traditions related to the deities.
The film is a collaboration between Panda and the state tourism department. Production of the 90-minute film began last June, and it aims to popularise the culture of Lord Jagannath across the world. "The film is close to completion, and we plan to release it in theatres across Odisha and also send it to film festivals," said Panda.
In another development, Nag, the 65-year-old poet from Bargarh, has dedicated the award to the people of west Odisha.
He feels that the award would be a boost to the Kosali language movement - the mother tongue of 10 districts in west Odisha. People of the region have been demanding inclusion of the language in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
"The Kosali language and literature is rich. Over the years, a number of writers and folk art forms have emerged in the language. Hopefully, my award will help getting the language national recognition," said the poet.
Since 1990, Nag has been promoting Kosali writings. Some of his popular works are Prem Paechan, Siri Somalai, Rasia Kavi and Mahasati Urmila. At present, he is working on poems on the lives of prominent Odia personalities such as Gangadhar Meher, Bhima Bhoi and Surendra Sai.
"I want to immortalise their works and struggles through my work," the poet said.
From faraway Varanasi, Supakar said: "I am working on Benaras handloom, but I want to merge Odisha fabrics with it and create a fusion."
