Bhubaneswar, May 4: Bringing laurels to Odisha, filmmaker Abhipsa Sahu’s Odia movie “Maila Chadara” has received the “Honourable Jury Mention” at the Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival 2026. The award was presented during the 16th edition of the festival held in New Delhi on April 30.

The recognition places the film among the most talked-about independent productions of the year and highlights a significant achievement for regional cinema on the national stage. Set in rural Odisha of the 1980s, the film has already garnered attention at several international film festivals.

Abhipsa Sahu was also honoured with the “Best Female Director” award at the Sanskar International Film Festival 2026. Earlier, “Maila Chadara” secured accolades at the Kodaikanal International Film Festival 2025, winning “Best Debut Feature Film” and a Special Jury Award for “Best Cinematography.”

On the global front, the film won “Best Women’s Film” at the Kyoto Independent Film Festival 2025 and was selected for screening at the Swedish International Film Festival 2025.

The film is based on a short story written by the director’s mother, Sasmita Sahu, during her early twenties. It narrates the story of a young school teacher and an elderly caregiver, set against the socio-cultural backdrop of 1980s rural Odisha.