‘The Healing Touch’ receives best short film award

Bhubaneswar: Suma Real Media Ltd (SRML), the media arm of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA), will be organising a short film festival and workshop on film making in the city shortly.

This was announced by Himanshu Hota, director (Sales and Marketing) of SRML at the second edition of News7 Short Film Award function conducted for the year 2021 at the Odissi Research Centre here on Friday night.

Fifty four entries in Odia had been received for the contest of which 39 films had been shortlisted for consideration in 13 categories. ‘The Healing Touch’ was chosen as the best short film while Braja Singh was picked as the best actor (male) for his role in ‘Jaha Mu Karichhi Taha Mu Paichhi’. Gargi Mohanty was selected as the best actor (female) for her portrayal in ‘The Healing Touch’.

Krushna Chandra Sahu got the special jury award for the short film ‘Abhilash’ while Mahesh STR was presented the special jury concept award for the film ‘Siba’. Alokesh Ray received the special jury award for best social message for his film ‘Dustbin’ while Aryan Ray got the best director and best cameraman awards for ‘Silent Love’.

The best editor award was given to Ambikesh Kunal Hota and the best child actor award was presented to Malhar Mahapatra for his role in ‘Mukti’. Sutam Das and Icchamayee Dhal were chosen as the best supporting actor, male and female respectively, for their roles in ‘Munuspan’ and ‘Bardhakya Bhata’.

A cash award of Rs 50,000 and a citation was presented to the best short film ‘The Healing Touch’ while other awardees were presented Rs 10,000 each and citation. Jury members film critic Surya Deo and director Pranab Das were felicitated on the occasion. Another jury member Dr Biyatpragya Tripathy could not be present.

Actors Ashrumochan Mohanty, Pruthiraj Nayak, Rudra Panigrahi and Jina Samal, who graced the occasion, gave away the awards.

Gopalkrushna Mohapatra, editor of ‘Prameya’, Debanarayan Sethi, working editor of News7 television channel, Subrat Das, consulting editor, Amaresh Das, chief of News7 and Prameya Digital, Bijay Kumar Mohanty, chief, Current Affairs, Siddhartha Ray, sales head of News7, SF Ali, deputy general manager, Prameya, Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, dean (Students’ Welfare), SOA also presented the awards to the winners.