Eminent Odia film director, producer, lyricist and actor Sarada Prasanna Nayak passed away while undergoing treatment for Covid-19 at a private hospital here on Wednesday night. He was 94.
Born and brought up in Cuttack, Nayak had a kin interest in acting and music since childhood. Brother of late actress Parbati Ghose and musician Swarup Nayak, he had formed an amateur threatere group in Cuttack named Kalapana Kala Mandira along with his siblings in the late 50s. He wrote and acted plays like “Sunamati”, “Parishod”, Sankhali and “Patni”. He started film career by directing his first film “Bhakta Jayadev” in 1956. Later, he produced films like Laxmi, Kaa, Stree, Sansara etc.
He had penned lyrics over 200 films. For his uninterrupted contribution to Odia film industry, he was honoured with the prestigious Jayadev Award in 2013.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and many other eminent persons expressed grief over Nayak’s demise. “The passing away of noted film producer and lyricist Sarada Prasanna Nayak has ended a special age of Odia film industry. He has left imprints of unforgettable memories by producing Laxmi, Kaa, Stree, Sansara etc. I pray for his soul to rest in peace and convey my condolences to the bereaved family,” tweeted the Chief Minister in Odia.
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan mourned his demise and sent his condolences to the grief-stricken family.
