Odia Film 'Lahari' Sets Sail for Oscar-Qualifying Festival in Seattle

Balasore, 22/9 (Krushna Kumar Mohanty): Odia cinema is set to make its mark on the international stage as Lahari, a feature film by National Award-winning filmmaker Amartya Bhattacharyya, has been selected for screening at the 20th Tasveer South Asian Film Festival in Seattle on October 8.

Produced by actress Jhilik Bhattacharjee, Lahari is described as a cinematic meditation on relationships, identity, and the quiet turbulence of human emotion. Amartya said his films have already been showcased at more than 200 international festivals, but this is the first time one of his works has been selected on an Oscar-qualifying platform.

The film, which earlier featured at the 30th Kolkata International Film Festival, now aims to captivate a global audience. Its cast includes Choudhury Jayaprakash Das, Dipanwit Dashmohapatra, and child artist Smruti Ranjan Mahala, whose performances have been praised as raw, real, and unforgettable.

According to the makers, Lahari revolves around organic eco-tourism and rural entrepreneurship, with a cast drawn from 15 different countries — a rare achievement for an Odia film. The story invites viewers to pause, reflect, and immerse themselves in the quiet poetry of life.