Odisha’s creative excellence has once again gained national recognition as acclaimed filmmaker Santosh Panda won the Best Director award at the 6th International Kolkata Short Film Festival IKSFF 2026 for his powerful 23-minute Odia documentary Dande Rahe Kahani Kahe: Baluka Kala. The prestigious honour was presented at a glittering ceremony held at Rotary Sadan, Kolkata, on January 25, during the 2026 edition of the festival, which featured a wide range of short films from India and across the world.

Santosh Panda’s award-winning documentary beautifully documents the traditional sand art of Odisha, portraying it not merely as an art form, but as a living expression of Odia identity, heritage, and cultural memory. Through evocative visuals and sensitive storytelling, the film captures the intricate craftsmanship of sand artists while highlighting the emotional and cultural narratives embedded within their creations.

The documentary draws attention to the urgent need to preserve and promote indigenous art forms like sand art, which often remain under-recognised despite their deep-rooted significance in Odisha’s cultural landscape. By focusing on both the artistic process and the cultural context, the film underlines how sand art serves as a medium of storytelling, reflecting the traditions, struggles, faith, and resilience of the Odia people.

Expressing happiness over the achievement, Santosh Panda said that the documentary has helped the beauty and importance of Odisha’s sand art reach a wider audience. He emphasised that sand art carries the soul of Odia identity and functions as a living narrative of tradition and continuity. According to him, the recognition at IKSFF 2026 is not just a personal milestone, but also a proud moment for Odisha’s art and documentary filmmaking community.

The 6th International Kolkata Short Film Festival 2026 brought together filmmakers, artists, and cinema lovers from different parts of the country and abroad, making the award even more significant. Santosh Panda’s win reinforces Odisha’s growing presence in the national and international film circuit and highlights the power of regional storytelling in preserving cultural heritage through cinema.

With this achievement, Dande Rahe Kahani Kahe: Baluka Kala stands as a meaningful cinematic tribute to Odisha’s sand art tradition, inspiring renewed interest in indigenous art forms and encouraging their documentation and promotion for future generations.