Odia music maestro Shantanu Mohapatra dies at 84
(Sourced from PTI)
Legendary Odia music director Shantanu Mohapatra passed away in a private hospital in Bhubaneshwar late last night, family sources said on Wednesday. He was 84. Mohapatra was suffering from old age-related ailments and finally succumbed to pneumonia and cardiac failure on Tuesday night. A large number of people paid their last respects to the music maestro at his Palaspalli residence.
Born at Baripada in Mayurbhanj district in 1936, Mohapatra has many firsts to his credit in the field of Odia music. A graduate of IIT, Kharagpur, he was a geophysicist and had worked with Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC).
Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal, Andhra Pradesh Governor BB Harichandan, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and many dignitaries condoled the demise of Mohapatra. In a condolence message, Lal said, "Santanu Mohapatra was part of Odisha music for almost six decades and he will be remembered by all for long."
Patnaik described Mohapatra as an "unfading talent." "As a lyricist and music director, he has left the shining signature of his talent. The music directed by him will keep him immortal forever," the Chief Minister said. Noting that Odisha has lost a talent, Patnaik announced state honor for the departed music director.
Mohapatra has the distinction of having around 1,900 plus compositions, including 53 films, 10 Jatras and 60 dramas by AIR (Cuttack), and 10 dance dramas to his credit. He has won over 80 awards and accolades as a music director, the highest in Odisha.
Mohapatra was the lone Odia music director to work with Bollywood artists like Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammad Rafi, Manna Dey, Usha Mangeshkar, and others. Mohapatra's work in Odia films included Sei chuna chuna, Mayuri go, Mun Jibi, Mun khoji bule, and many others. In honor of his lifetime contribution to Odia culture, the Utkal University of Culture had conferred honorary D.Litt on him in 2011.
