Bhubaneswar, Aug. 4: The State Film Awards for 2008 and 2009 were finally announced after a gap of three years on Thursday at Pantha Nivas. The awards, which are given by the department of culture, will be handed over to the winners on August 9.

While Jianta Bhuta won seven awards in different categories for 2008, films Akase Ki Ranga Lagila and Saata Sure Bandha E Jibana topped the award charts for 2009.

Jianta Bhuta won the Mohan Sundar Debgoswami award for the best film, while Prasant Nanda won the awards for direction and editing. A. K. Bir won the best cinematography for this film that also won awards for best art direction, sound recording and special jury award. Akash Nayak and Rali Nanda won the best actor and actress for their performances in Kalinga Putra.

“I’m immensely delighted on being adjudged the best actor for 2008, especially since it was my debut film Kalinga Putra. The film was close to my heart and now has become even more special. It has been little late but I believe in ‘better late than never’,” said Akash.

“Calls conveying congratulatory messages have been pouring in since morning from friends. I would say my wife is really lucky,” said the young actor who tied the knot last year.

The film also won two other awards in the categories of best child artiste and screenplay. Veteran actors Bijay Mohanty and Aparajita Mohanty won the awards for best supporting roles for the films Satyameba Jayate and Hasiba Puni Mo Suna Sansara respectively. Film personality Sadhu Meher has been chosen for the 2008 Jayadev Puraskar for lifetime contribution.

The 2009 awards are a mixed bag of different films. Saata Sura Bandha E Jibana won the best film award. Sanjay Nayak and Archita Sahu bagged the best director and best actress award respectively for Pagala Karichhi Paunji Tora .

Akase Ki Ranga Lagila claimed five awards best actor (Anubhav Mohanty), best screenplay, art direction, best editor and sound recording. The laurels for the best supporting roles have been won by Mihir Das for Abhimanyu and Madhusmita for Suna Chadehei Mo Rupa Chadhei.

Yesteryear actress Mahasweta Ray will be receiving the Jayadev Puraskar for 2009. No films were chosen in the categories of best educative children’s film and documentary film for both the years.

After the 2007 awards that were presented in 2008, various issues related to nominations as well as funds delayed the awards for the consecutive years. A seven-member jury selected the winners for 2008 and 2009 in 22 categories. The jury members included IAS officer Bibekanada Patnayak, authors Archana Nayak and Bibhuti Pattnaik, dramatist Kartik Chandra Rath, film critic Dilip Hali and filmmakers Prabhansu Samantray and Chakradhar Sahu.

“We want to promote films and have increased the overall award money from Rs 1,27,500 to Rs 5,00,000 that will be implemented from the 2011 awards. We have increased the categories for awards from 22 to 27. Also, to encourage filmmakers, we will be holding the 2010 and 2011 awards next year so that there is no delay in the coming years,” said culture minister Prafulla Samal.

The jury for 2010 awards was also declared on Thursday. Film artiste Sarat Pujari, film-maker Nirad Mohapatra, Raju Mishra (senior technician), veteran film journalists Pradosh Patnaik and Parikhit Jena, author Pratibha Ray and film-maker Sabyasachi Mohapatra will be judging the 2010 nominations.