Sambalpur: Renowned Lyricist Atal Bihari Panda Passes Away

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By Newsroom Odisha Network

Sambalpur: Famed lyricist, playwright, theatre and movie actor Atal Bihari Panda died today early morning at 3.45 at Vimsar, Sambalpur. He was of age 92. He lost his wife few days before.

Panda was born at Binika in Subarnapur District. He started acting in plays since 1944 and had acted around 100 plays through out his life. He had written 65 stage and radio plays, many of them are in Sambalpuri.

He was one among the pioneer playwright of Sambalpuri plays. “Phata Kapaal” written by him is the first printed Sambalpuri play. His second Sambalpuri play ” Bhains Aage Nagdhuni” was a much talked about play.

Former Chief Minister Dr Harekrushna Mahtab once saw his one of the plays and suggested him to write opera script. He wrote six opera while serving at Cuttack. ” Baagha Matichi”, an opera written by him created high voltage sensation. Mani Sangraha, Klanta Aparanha are two of his popular Odiya plays. Sadgati, Sambalpuri play written by him and staged by Srujani, Sambalpur could fetch many awards from different play competitions.

He was a lyricist of front line. He had penned many famous Sambalpuri songs. He was the lyricist of most of the popular song sang by Late Fakir Pattanaik.

He left the people stunned when he made his debut in Sambalpuri movie ” Sala Budha” as an actor in 2013 at the age of 83. He continued to mesmerize audience in his two subsequent Sambalpuri films Adim Vichar and Sala Budhar Badla, all directed by Sabyasachi Mahapatra.

He had received two back to back Odisha State Film Award for Best Actor. Felicitated many times Atal Bihari Panda received D. Litt by Sambalpur University in 30 convocation in 2019.

He was in Government Service and was staying at Burla, Sambalpur. He continued to stay at Burla after retirement. He breathed his last at the same place.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has condoled the death of Atal Bihari Panda.

Newsroom Odisha Network
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