Finance
Today Odisha’s legendary musician Prafulla Kar passed away at 83. The veteran singer was suffering from age-related ailments.
He breathed his last at his residence at Satya Nagar in the city at around 10 pm, family sources said.
He is survived by his wife Manorama Kar and children Mahaprasad Kar, Sandhyadipa Kar and Mahadeep Kar.
A pall of gloom descended on the Ollywood fraternity after the demise of Kar.
Born on 16 February 1939 in Puri, Kar was an eminent musician, singer, lyricist, writer and columnist.
He made his debut as a professional singer in the Odia film industry in 1962 with ‘Shri Shri Patita Pabana’. Thirteen years later in 1975, he began his journey as a music composer in the film ‘Mamata’ and went on to become a household name. Having directed music for over 60 Odia and four Bengali movies, Kar was honoured with the Padma Shri in the year 2015 in the field of art.
He was also the recipient of the Jayadeva Award in the year 2004.
He had become a household name in Odisha with his song ‘Kamala Desha Rajakumara’.
Besides the prestigious Jaydev Puraskar in 2004, the State government had conferred him with the Best Music Director Award on six occasions for his outstanding contribution to the Odia music industry. The six films are ‘Mamata’, ‘Sesa Srabana’, ‘Bandhu Mohanty’, ‘Sati Anasuya’, ‘Sita Labakusa’ and ‘School Master’. He had also composed music for numerous Odissi dance dramas and music CDs for the Government of Odisha.
In 2009, the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi’s highest honour – Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Award – was conferred upon him. Apart from singing and composing songs, Kar had also played small roles in two Odia films ‘Mukti’ and ‘Thukool’. People from different walks of life condoled his demise.
His last rites will be performed at Swarga Dwara in Puri , family sources added.
