Himansu Sekhar Khatua independently with his debut film Shunya Swarupa which took him to international film festivals including International Film Festival Rotterdam (Netherlands), Kinotavr (Sochi International Film Festival, Russia), Gothenburg Film Festival (Sweden), and Cinema Jove International Film Festival, Valencia (Spain). The Film also got National Award as the Best Regional Film in Oriya, and many state awards. Following the first film, his career took a turn as he was offered by Alaya Mohanty to direct a film. Even as a youth, his thinking style was different. And in 1996 he started his first directorial film ‘Sunya Swarupa’ that dwelt upon a tough subject ‘saint’. The film received incredible success after being screened in the national and international level. The film adjudged as the Best feature film in Odia at the 44th National Film Festival in the year 1996. The film also received Odisha State film awards in 5 categories including Best film and best direction. In 2005 Himansu Khatua directed ‘Kathantara’, presented by Odisha’s popular family magazine ‘Kadambini’ and Founder of KISS and KIIT Dr Achyuta Samanta and produced by Dr Iti Samanta. The film received National Film Awards for being the Best film of the year (Odia). ‘Kathantara’ also grabbed the State awards in multiple categories including the Best Direction, Best film and Best story. Similarly, his directed and Kadambini Media presented ‘Kahani Nuhen’ was adjudged as the best short film in the first State Telefilm Awards. Besides, Khatua has earned much appreciation for directing ‘Kahe Ballava’, an experimental film based on Moghul Tamsa and Odishan culture. The film garnered huge admiration after being screened at the International Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival, International Mumbai Short Film Festival and South Asian Short Film Festival. Himansu Khatua has not only earned success for making films from his own writings but has also made films written by others and greatly succeed. He has made a unique film ‘Matira Bandhana’ based on ‘Trunk of Ganesh’ by Jayanta Mohapatra. His directed another hugely successful film ‘Krantidhara’ is based on novel ‘Jhada Parara Surya’, written by Dr Iti Samanta. These films have earned several awards and huge appreciation. ‘Krantidhara’ earned State Film Awards, Asian Excellency Award in the international level and also adjudged as the best film in the South Korea Film Festival.