This year's OSA Life Time Achievement Award will be presented to Mr Prashanta Nanda for his 50 years of service to Odia cinema as actor, director and music director.  WASITRAC is a co-sponsor of the award.

For the year 2009, Mr Nanda's film Jianta Bhoota won National Film Awards under National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Environment/Conservation/Preservation Film category. The film also won awards at the Independent South Asian Film Festival in Seattle, Washington

Mr. Prashanta Nanda, started off his career in the film industry as an actor with the film "Dasyu Ratnakar" in 1959 and since then he is involved in the industry in many ways. He received National Award for his acting in 1960 with the film "Nua Bou".

Mr Prashanta Nanda has received National Award in 1966 as an artist for his performance in "Matira Manisha" directed by Mrinal Sen and in 1969 for his film "Adina Megha". Mr Nanda is the only man in the Film industry in Orissa who has mastered in Acting, Story Writing, Screenplay Writing, Dialogue Writing, Lyrics Writing, Music Direction, Direction, Playback Singer and Producer.

For more on Prashanta Nanda, please check:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prashanta_Nanda

• www.thelivingghost.com

• The note from the US Congressman Jim McDermott on "The Living Ghost"

• South Asian Film Awards