(Above) Poster of Sala Budha that won the best film award and (right) Archita Sahu who got the best actress award for the film ACP Sagarika

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 13: The story of an old man’s wit, Sala Budha, has swept the 25th State Film Awards for 2013.

While Sala Budha bagged the best film award, its director Sabyasachi Mohapatra was adjudged the best director’s award and the best actor’s award went to its 82-year-old protagonist Atal Bihari Panda, state tourism and culture minister Ashok Panda said here today.

The film has already won laurels in the national and international level. It vividly portrays the plight of citizens and the continuous efforts of an old man to keep them motivated.

“I am extremely happy that my efforts got recognised. My primary aim behind making this film was to bridge the gap between the older and the younger generations. The presence of elderly people is always a blessing to a family and society and youngsters should respect their emotions,” said the elated director.

Last year, the jury had scrapped awards in various categories, including the best film and best director, but this time the awards were declared for almost all the categories.

Apart from the best children’s film and the best film in tribal language (where no entries were made), awards will be conferred in 27 other sections.

The government received nominations for 16 films this year.

“The entries this year were better from the films that were released last year,” said one of the members of the jury panel, filmmaker Gadadhar Puty.

The jury has decided to give the coveted Jayadev Award, which is the lifetime achievement award for contribution to the Odia film industry, to filmmaker and lyricist Sarada Prasanna Nayak.

Archita Sahu won the best actress award for enacting the role of a tough police officer in ACP Sagarika.

“The role was extremely challenging for me as I had never done something like that before. I am honoured,” said Archita.

Speaking on the parameters on which the awards were selected, film critic and member of the panel, Dilip Hali, said: “Our focus was to ensure that the films had a social relevance and excelled aesthetically. The selection was also based on the originality of the scripts and the technical standards.”

The awards will be given on November 21 and the teleawards on November 22 at the Utkal Mandap in Bhubaneswar.

For the State Tele Awards, the government received entries from 10 serials. Ahya Sulakhyani won the best tele- serial award and Nirottam Parida won the best tele-director for the same serial.