Legendary Odia singer Prafulla Kar dies at 83
Legendary singer, music composer, and lyricist Prafulla Kar passed away at the age of 83 on Sunday night in Bhubaneswar.
Kar was suffering from old-age related health problems and died of cardiac arrest, according to reports.
A household name in Odisha, Kar has composed music for more than 70 movies, many Odissi dance dramas, chhandas (metrical poems), Odia Bhagabat and folk songs.
In his career spanning over six decades, Kar lent his voice not only to thousands of Odia songs, but also for many Bengali songs as well.
Apart from his contribution to the music industry, Kar has authored several books and has written many columns as well.
Popularly known as “Kamala Deshara Rajkumar” for his iconic composition of a song by the same name, Kar was born in Puri in the erstwhile Bengal Presidency on February 16, 1939.
Kar got training in classical music right from his childhood and was a recognised singer at the All India Radio (AIR) by the age of 21.
Kar started his film career from Odia film Patitapabana. He began his music composition career with the film Mamata, which became an instant hit.
A staunch devotee of Lord Jagannath, Kar has composed hundreds of devotional songs and Prabhukrupa, a musical album composed by him and recorded in the voice of Anuradha Poudwal recorded a sale of over 10 lakh cassettes.
Many noted singers like Kishore Kumar, SP Balasubramanayam, Suresh Wadekar, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Usha Mangeshkar, Md Aziz, S Janaki, and Yesudas rendered their voices to the music composed by Kar.
After hearing the news of his demise, many eminent personalities and fans visited Kar’s residence in Satya Nagar to pay their tributes to him.
Top political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswabhushan Harichandan, Union Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP’s national vice president Baijayant Panda, and OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik expressed condolences on Kar’s demise.
“Anguished by the passing away of Shri Prafulla Kar Ji. He will be remembered for his pioneering contribution to Odia culture and music. He was blessed with a multifaceted personality and his creativity was reflected in his works. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti,” PM Modi said in a tweet.
Anguished by the passing away of Shri Prafulla Kar Ji. He will be remembered for his pioneering contribution to Odia culture and music. He was blessed with a multifaceted personality and his creativity was reflected in his works. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 18, 2022
Patnaik said in a tweet in Odia, “I am saddened to learn of the death of the famous musician Prafulla Kar. His demise marked the end of an era in the world of Oriya music. His unique musical style will forever immortalize him in the hearts of the people. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family and wish them well.”
ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ସଙ୍ଗୀତଜ୍ଞ ପ୍ରଫୁଲ୍ଲ କରଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ତାଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସଙ୍ଗୀତ ଜଗତରେ ଏକ ଯୁଗର ଅବସାନ ଘଟାଇଛି। ତାଙ୍କର ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର ସଙ୍ଗୀତ ରଚନା ଶୈଳୀ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ହୃଦୟରେ ତାଙ୍କୁ ସର୍ବଦା ଅମର କରି ରଖିବ। ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ ତାଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରୁଛି।
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) April 18, 2022
Kar received many awards and honours in his illustrious career, notable among which are Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India, in 2015, Jaydev Samman, the highest film award of the state in 2004, and Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanj Samman, the highest award of Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi.
Kar holds the rare distinction of being awarded Best Music Director in Odisha State Film Awards for a record eight times.
Kar is survived by wife, daughter and two sons. His last rites will be held at Swargadwar, Puri on Monday.
