Singer Prafulla Kar gets Padma Shri

BHUBANESWAR: He was doing what he is best at when the news broke. A Padma title, which was eluding celebrated singer and composer Prafulla Kar for years, was finally his. On Sunday, Kar was chosen for Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in the country. He is the only one from Odisha to figure among 104 Padma awardees, according to the list released by the Centre.Since then his phone has been ringing off the hook.
He was recording a devotional album of English songs (an Indo-German collaboration), composed in Indian music, when he got the news. The songs were rendered by German singer Marisa.
"Obviously one feels good with such a recognition. But more than the award I am cherishing the kind of love and affection people of Odisha are showering on me after the news broke. My phone has been ringing constantly as hundreds of well-wishers are pouring in congratulatory messages," said Kar.
A household name in Odisha, Kar has scored music in over 70 Odia films and lent his voice to hundreds of film, radio and album songs. The 76-year-old maestro has also composed music for numerous Odissi dance dramas and ballets.
Known for his mellifluous voice, Kar has been a patron of Odisha's rich cultural traditions and recorded Odia Bhagabat and Odia Chhanda, a rare collection of traditional Odia songs.
He is popular for his devotional numbers. Album 'Prabhukrupa', directed by him, was a chart-buster, recording sales of over 10 lakh cassettes. His composition 'Collection of Geet Govindam', rendered by Vani Jayaram, was also a huge hit.
Kar has the rare distinction of being awarded best music director in state film awards for eight times, six in a row.
Kar said his ultimate aim is to see Odissi music getting classical status. "I have been promoting Odissi music at the national level and striving hard to ensure classical tag for it."
Only one from Odisha getting the Padma award has not gone down well with the people of the state. "Successive governments have been neglecting Odisha on every front, be it political, cultural or financial. It is also a failure of the state government, which failed to lobby for deserving people," said state president of Samajwadi Party Rabi Behera.
Apart from Kar, the state government had recommended Padma Shri for actor Sadhu Meher, terracotta artist Debraj Sahoo, painter Dinanath Pathy, Odissi dancer Sujata Mohapatra, Bhubaneswar AIIMS director and neurosurgeon Ashok Mohapatra and filmmaker Nilamadhab Panda, among others, an official said.
For Padma Bhushan, the nominees were linguist Debi Prasanna Patnaik, poet Jagannath Prasad Das, Odissi singer Sunanda Patnaik, writers Manoj Das and Prativa Ray.