(From top) Ira Mohanty (best playback singer for Suna Chadhei Mo Rupa Chadhei), Mihir Das (best supporting actor for Abhimanyu) , Mahasweta Ray (Jayadev Award for the year 2009), Bijay Mohanty (best supporting actor for Satya Meba Jayate) and Prasanta Nanda (best director and best editor for Jiyanta Bhuta), receive the state film awards. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 10: The 21st State Film Awards 2008-09 held at the capital was a grand and starry affair.

Excitement and anticipation filled the air while the audience exploded with loud claps and whistles every time their favourite stars walked up to the stage to receive the prestigious awards.

The coveted Jayadev Awards given for lifetime contribution went to Sadhu Meher for 2008 and Mahasweta Ray for 2009.

The jury for the state awards included esteemed dignitaries from the film industry such as director Chakradhar Sahu, dramatist Kartik Chandra Rath, writer Bibhuti Pattnaik, film producer Prabhashu Samantaray, cine critique Dillip Halli, writer Archana Nayak and retired IAS Vivekananda Pattanayak.

For 2008, Jiyanta Bhuta bagged the maximum number of awards. The film won a total of seven awards that included Mohan Sunder Dev Goswami award for best feature film, best director, best photographer, best editing, best art director, best sound recordist and a special jury award went to Rimjhim Gupta.

“I am very happy. Jiyanta Bhuta was well received at many international festivals such as Cairo film festival, South Asian film festival, Seattle, Pune festival. We have even received a National Award for the film, but nothing feels better than winning an award from your own state,” tweeted the legendary artiste Prasanta Nanda.

Running neck and neck were Kalinga Putra and Hasiba Puni Mo Suna Sansar. The best actor award went to Akash Das Nayak and Rally Nanda won best actress for the film Kalinga Putra that also won best screenplay and best child artiste award.

Biranchi Narayan Panda won the title of best storywriter for Satya Meba Jayate.

Unlike 2008, no particular film dominated the 2009 honours. However, Aakase Ki Ranga Lagila took the lead followed by Sata Sure Bandha Ae Jibana, Suna Chadhei Mo Rupa Chadhei, Pagala Karichi Paunji Tora and Ulgulan.

The best director award went to Sanjay Nayak for Pagala Karichi Paunji Tora. Anubhav Mohanty bagged the best actor award for Aakase Ki Ranga Lagila and the best actress award was given to Archita Sahoo for Pagala Karichi Paunji Tora. The best film of 2009 was Sata Sure Bandha Ae Jiban.

Governor of Orissa, Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare, gave away the esteemed award to the winners.

A number of revisions have been made in state film awards categories and award money that will be implemented from 2011.

The overall award money has been increased from Rs 1,27,500 to Rs 5 lakh. New categories of awards like best film in any tribal language of Orissa, best dialogue writer, best costume designer, best make-up artiste and best choreographer have been introduced.

The awards for 2008-09 had been delayed due to various reasons, said officials of culture department that organises the award function.

They said that the awards for 2010 and 2011 would be given away in 2012.