Sangeeta Sudhakar Balakrushna Dash was one of the most cultured and
sophisticated musicians of Odisha. He is among the few singers who have
made a special position for themselves in the Indian music industry. The
name of this legendary artist was almost synonymous with Odishi music,
dance, drama, theatre and Odia traditional folk songs.
Life & Career
Sangeeta Sudhakar Balakrushna Dash |
Balakrushna
Dash, son of late Pandit Dinabandhu Dash, and Kamala Devi, was born on
15th May 1923 at Basantpedi in Puri district of Odisha. He learnt
"Gotipua" music, the traditional Odishi music from different gurus of
Gotipua Dala. He is Kovida in Sanskrit from Sanskrit. At the age of 16
he went to Kendrapada where he learnt Odishi vocal from late Gokul
Chandra Srichandan. As per instruction of his Guru Srichandan, he learnt
Hindustani Classical Music from Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan at Kolkata.
He also learnt vocal music from late Guru Kailash Chandra Maitra of
Odisha. He was fortunate to learn Indian Orchestra Composition and the
art of music direction from Late Rai Charan Boral, the famous music
director.
He started his professional career at AIR,
Kolkata. In 1948 he joined as staff artist in AIR, Katak. On basic
traditional style and raga of Odishi Music he introduced different style
of singing which brought mass appreciation and earned fame everywhere.
He sang Odishi, Champu, Chanda, Astapadi (Geeta Govinda) Bhajan, Janan
and also Adhunika Palligeeta etc.
As a leading
music-composer he has composed music for a number of Dance Dramas of
famous Guru of Odishi Dance, Sri Pankaj Charan Das in "Kathakuha"
Matrubandana of famous Odia poet Madhusudan Rao and "Glani Sambhara"
which was appreciated in Asiad ‘82 at Delhi. He is a prolific music
composer and singer and there are about 200 gramophone records of his
music.
He left this material world on 12th November 1993.
Professional Associations
With
a desire to spread the Culture of Odishi Music, he joined as lecturer
in Kalavikash Kendera, Cuttack He also worked with National Music
Association Cuttack, Sangeet Samaj Cuttack, Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya
Bhubaneswar. He has also joined Odishi Research Centre of Government.
Awards
He
has been awarded and earned number of titles such as, Sur Singhari
award, Sangeet Sudhakar title by Kalavinod. He was honoured by State
Sangeet Natak Akademi. He has also been honoured by the Padma Keshari
award, Central Sangeet Natak Akademi award, Best Music director award
for Odia film "Basanta Rasa", Mohansunder Deb Goswami award and
prestigious 'Tulsi Samman' of Madhya Pradesh Government etc.
Flimography
Singer
- Eta Bidhira Bidhana [Kasturi (1988)]
- Eka Hua Sangram [Kasturi (1988)]
- Rati Sukha Sare [Jayadeb (1987)]
- Chandan Charchita [Jayadeb (1987)]
- Badasi Jadi Kichidipi [Jayadeb (1987)]
- Kasturi Tilakam [Jayadeb (1987)]
- Yuge Yuge Bhagabana [Sakshi Gopinath (1978)]
- Bande Premamayee Radha [Sakshi Gopinath (1978)]
- Subhadra Harana Jatra [Kanakalata (1974)]
- Marama Tale Atita Je Marena [Abhinetri (1965)]
- Mamata Madhura Priya [Amada Bata (1964)]
Music Director
- Jayadeb (1987)
- Basant Rasa (1984)
- Shri Krushna Rasa Leela (1979)
- Mathura Bijay (1979)
- Sankha Mahuri (1978)
- Kanakalata (1974)
- Adina Megha (1970)
- Naba Janma (1965)
- Abhinetri (1965)
- Manika Jodi (1964)
- Jeeban Sathi (1964)
- Sadhana (1964)
- Amada Bata (1964)
- Dasyu Ratnakar (1962)
- Laxmi (1962)
- Shri Loknath (1960)
- Bhai Bhai (1956)
- Kedar Gouri (1954)
- Shri Jagannath (1950)
Listen more songs of Balakrushna Dash
Reference