Celebrated musician from Odisha, Padma Shri Prafulla Kar no more

Acclaimed musician from Odisha, Prafulla Kar left for his heavenly abode late on Sunday night. He was 83.

Kar breathed his last at his residence in Satyanagar of Bhubaneswar. He was suffering from old-age-related health ailments for quite some time.

His last rites will be performed at Puri Swarga Dwara on Monday (tomorrow), his family sources said.

Born in 1939, Kar was a master musician, singer, lyricist, writer all-in-one, and indeed a great virtuoso. He had weaved magic with his magical tone and mystical creation in music during his decades-long illustrious career.

Considered a pioneer in giving a new identity to Odia music industry, Kar is credited to have given voice to around 70 hit Odia films and created numerous musical productions. 

He was felicitated with India’s fourth-highest civilian award, the Padma Shri in 2015 for his invaluable contribution to the field of art and music.

Kar was also a recipient of the prestigious Jaydev Award in 2004, Odisha’s top award given to a personality for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Odia cinema.

Condolences poured from all sections of society paying tributes to the music legend whose demise has left an unfillable void yet promises an ever-lasting legacy in Odia music.

Be it 'Kalia mo dehe boli de to deha kala' sung by famous singer Anuradha Poudwal or Chitta Jena's 'Mo priya tharu kie', Kar's magnificent musical creations will continue to captivate millions of music lovers for generations. 

Kar boasts the rare distinction of being awarded Best Music Director in Odisha State Film Awards for a record eight times. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Odisha Governor Professor Ganeshi Lal, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, BJP National Vice President Jay Panda, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das, noted cine industry personalities, musicians and people from all walks of life expressed grief at the passing away of the veteran musician. 

PM Modi expressed grief over the passing away of the eminent musician and said, "his unique contribution to Oriya music and culture will make him memorable."

ଶ୍ରୀଯୁକ୍ତ ପ୍ରଫୁଲ୍ଲ କରଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମର୍ମାହତ । ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସଂଗୀତ ଓ ସଂସ୍କୃତି ପାଇଁ ତାଙ୍କର ଅନନ୍ୟ ଯୋଗଦାନ ତାଙ୍କୁ ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ କରି ରଖିବ । ଶ୍ରୀଯୁକ୍ତ କର ଅନେକ ପ୍ରତିଭାର ଅଧିକାରୀ ଏବଂ ତାଙ୍କର ସୃଜନଶୀଳତା କାର୍ଯ୍ୟରେ ପ୍ରତିଫଳିତ ହୁଏ । ପରିବାର ଏବଂ ପ୍ରଶଂସକଙ୍କୁ ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି । ଓଁ ଶାନ୍ତି ।

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 18, 2022

"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 Odia music. His unique musical style will forever immortalise him in the hearts of the people. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family," CM Naveen Patnaik tweeted.

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

ଓଡିଶା ସଙ୍ଗୀତ ଜଗତର କିମ୍ବଦନ୍ତୀ ସଙ୍ଗୀତଜ୍ଞ ପଦ୍ମଶ୍ରୀ ପ୍ରଫୁଲ୍ଲ କରଙ୍କ ପରଲୋକରେ ମାନ୍ୟବର ରାଜ୍ୟପାଳ ଗଭୀର ଶୋକ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିଛନ୍ତି l ଗାୟକ, ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶକ ତଥା ଗୀତିକାର ଭାବରେ ତାଙ୍କର କୃତି ଓ କୀର୍ତ୍ତି ଚିର ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ରହିବ ବୋଲି ପ୍ରକାଶ କରି ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗ ଓ ପ୍ରଫୁଲ୍ଲ ସଙ୍ଗୀତପ୍ରେମୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇଛନ୍ତି l

— Governor Odisha (@GovernorOdisha) April 18, 2022

"End of an era in the world of Odia music! I am very saddened with the demise of Padma Shri Prafulla Kar, a well-known vocalist, eminent musician, lyricist and columnist, 'prince of the lotus land'. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family," BJP National Vice President Baijayant Panda tweeted.

ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସଙ୍ଗୀତ ଜଗତରେ ଏକ ଯୁଗର ଅବସାନ!
ସୁପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ କଣ୍ଠଶିଳ୍ପୀ, ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ସଙ୍ଗୀତକାର, ଗାଳ୍ପିକ ତଥା ସ୍ତମ୍ଭକାର, 'କମଳ ଦେଶର ରାଜକୁମାର' ପଦ୍ମଶ୍ରୀ ପ୍ରଫୁଲ୍ଲ କରଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ।
ଦିବଂଗତ ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାର ବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି ।
ଓଁ ଶାନ୍ତି 🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/VuQAyBV7ng

— Baijayant Panda Odia (@Panda_Odia) April 17, 2022

Taking to Twitter Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan wrote, "I am deeply saddened to hear the news of the death of Padma Shri Prafulla Kar, a popular music director, vocalist and lyricist of the Odia music industry. He will forever be remembered by the people for his lifelong devotion to classical Odissi music, cinema and modern music."

ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସଂଗୀତ ଜଗତର ଲୋକପ୍ରିୟ ସଂଗୀତ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶକ, କଣ୍ଠଶିଳ୍ପୀ, ଗୀତିକାର ପଦ୍ମଶ୍ରୀ ପ୍ରଫୁଲ୍ଲ କରଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଓ ମର୍ମାହତ । ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରୀୟ ଓଡ଼ିଶୀ ସଙ୍ଗୀତ, ସିନେମା ଓ ଆଧୁନିକ ସଙ୍ଗୀତରେ ତାଙ୍କର ଜୀବନବ୍ୟାପୀ ସାଧନା ପାଇଁ ସେ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ମନରେ ଚିର ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ହୋଇ ରହିବେ । pic.twitter.com/VrnyPDjKAy

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) April 17, 2022

ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ସୁନାମଧନ୍ୟ ସଂଗୀତ ନିର୍ଦେଶକ ତଥା କଣ୍ଠଶିଳ୍ପୀ ପ୍ରଫୁଲ୍ଲ କରଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗରେ ଆନ୍ଧ୍ର ପ୍ରଦେଶ ରାଜ୍ୟପାଳ ଶ୍ରୀ ବିଶ୍ୱଭୂଷଣ ହରିଚନ୍ଦନ ଗଭୀର ଶୋକ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିଛନ୍ତି l ଶ୍ରୀ କରଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗରେ ସେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ମର୍ମାହତ ଓ ଦୁଃଖିତ ହେବା ସହିତ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ସଂଗୀତ ଓ କଳା କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରୁ ଏକ ଉଜ୍ଜଳ ନକ୍ଷତ୍ରର ଅବସାନ ଘଟିବା ବ୍ୟକ୍ତ କରିଛନ୍ତି l

— Governor of Andhra Pradesh (@governorap) April 18, 2022

Expressing grief over the demise of Kar, noted singer Laxmikant Palit said, "It is a loss to Indian music industry. He started his career as a singer, but later he emerged as a noted music director. His music will remain forever in the hearts of the people."

"Kar's demise has created a deep void in the Odia music industry. It is impossible to get someone like him again. Above all, he is a good human being," ace singer Girija Das said.

"I was stunned after hearing the news of Kar's demise. I cannot believe that he left us so early. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family," Ananta Narayan Jena, MLA (Bhubaneswar Central) said.