Chilka- The Wonder Lagoon

English/17 mins/1992
Producer: R. Krishna Mohan, Films Division, Mumbai

Subject Focus: The film provides information about the scenic beauty of Chilka Lake.

Summary: Chilka, the wonder lagoon is situated on the eastern coast of India in the state of Orrisa. This largest inland brackish waterbody in Asia stretches to an area of 800 square kilometers. Its blue waters, tiny islets and migratory birds attract the tourists. Nalbana, a sixteen kilometer area in the North-West part of Chilka has been declared as a wildlife sanctuary. One hundred and fifty kinds of birds visit Chilika every year. Chilika’s water supply them with abundant food. It is a bird-watchers paradise. The film provides information and scenic beauties of this wonder lagoon.

Director’s Profile: Director, Shri Ghanashyam Mohapatra was an Assistant Director at the Filmistan Studios, Mumbai and since 1960 has been devoted to the making of purposeful documentary films in Orrisa. Maa-O-Sishu, Ammar Samasya, Radhu-0-Shyam, Odissi Dance, Mukti, Bagha Mamu, Boita Bandana, Pragati Pathe Bidyut Sakti, etc. are some of his films which have won the best documentary awards of the state government. Krishi Jantrapati (Orrisa) has won the 1st National Award as best agricultural – industrial documentary film in 1985. He also won a 2nd National Award for the documentary film For A Better Living in 1987 and the International Award at Nitra-Czechoslovakia in 1987 and a Certificate of Merit at the XV Internationaler Agrarfilm UND TV, Wettweberb-Berlin, 1998. He was in the selection panel of various film festivals.