Veteran Odia music director Basudev Ratha no more

Bhubaneswar: Renowned Odia music director Basudev Ratha breathed his last on Sunday while undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. Ratha was 68.

Family sources said, Ratha was suffering from protracted illness after a serious brain stroke hit him 18 days ago. He was rushed to SCB and immediately admitted to the central ICU facility where he passed away on Sunday.

Ratha who got his big break in the superhit Odia movie Sakhi Gopinath (1977) went on to give music for more than 150 films and around 50 music albums during his glittering career.

Credited for the success of well known singers like Tansen, Manna Dey and several others, the veteran musician had directed some of the biggest hits in Odia music industry.

His top hits including 'Jhumka Tike Tu To Haleide' from 'Chinha Achinha film',  'Maa Tume Jagatara Saha Bharasa', 'Sagare Kule Dine Dekhili Jhia Tiye', 'Lagichi Dori Jibi Mu Puri' have touched the hearts of millions of Odias for years.

Personalities from music industry expressed deep condolences at the demise of Ratha.

Odia Music Director Prem Anand shared grief at the death of the veteran music director and said, "It is a big loss to the Odia music industry. Personally, he was a very good person by heart and an incomparable musician."

Tarang Music had recently felicitated Ratha for his lifetime contribution to Odia music industry.