Actor-director Gobind Tej passes away

Bhubaneswar: Noted actor and director Gobind Tej passed away on Thursday morning while undergoing treatment at a private hospital here.

He received the Odisha State Film Award for Best Director for movies like ‘Kaberi’, ‘School Master’, ‘Tunda Baida’ and ‘Gare Sindura Dhare Luha.’

In 1977, he received the Odisha State Film Award for Best Actor for his remarkable acting in the movie ‘Bandhu Mohanty’.

Tej was also conferred the ‘Jaydev Award’, the highest cine award in the state, in 1986 for his lifelong contribution to the growth and development of Odia cinema.

The ace director, actor and producer started his film career in 1958 as an actor with a small role in Maa movie by Chitram Production.

In mid 1970s, he set his footprint in production field by producing ‘Krushna Sudama’ under his banner- New Life Production.

In a career of over 50 years, he had contributed in many Odia feature films either as an actor, director or producer, thus becoming one of the most prolific film-makers of Odisha.

Music director Prafulla Kar and many eminent personalities from various walks of life reached his residence to offer their last tributes to the departed soul.