Cuttack: Actor-music composer-lyricist Swarup Nayak’s last rites were conducted with full state honours at Satichaura crematorium in Odisha’s Cuttack city on Saturday. The last rites were performed by his daughter.
Nayak, 76, was suffering from throat cancer for the last few months and died on Friday at his residence here.
Born on February 8, 1946, he made foray into Ollywood as a child artist in 1962 with the film ‘Laxmi’. Later he acted in ‘Kaa’ (1965) and ‘Stree’ (1968). After a small break, he started his second innings in the industry with ‘Suna Sansar’ (1977) in which he acted as a villain. He then went on to act in films like ‘Jaga Balia’ and ‘Dora’. ‘Kalinga Putra’, which released in 2008, was his last movie as an actor.
His music journey started in 1984 with the film ‘Hira Nila’ and he went on to compose music for around 40 films and wrote songs for 30 others. Some of his notable film credits include ‘Pua Mora Bhola Shankar’ (1996), ‘Sahara Jaluchi’ (1998), ‘Sundura Nuhein Khela Ghara’ (2002), ‘I Love You’ (2004), ‘Premi No. 1’ (2009), and ‘Swayamsiddha’ (2010), which was his last film as music director.
He also produced music records for puja and other occasions. Some of these records include ‘Le Labina…Tike Pachaku Ana…’, ‘Bata Chhada Asuchi Dasara Pujara Medha’ and ‘Odisha Mo Odisha’ for TV.
According film historian Surya Deo, Nayak composed songs using Odia folklore, Odia proverbs and colloquial language of rural people. “He was a master in using political satire in his songs. After Kalicharan Patnaik and Banchhanidhi Mohanty, Nayak is the person who started the political satire in his music during the 80’s and 90’s,” he said, adding that he broke the dominance of singers from Mumbai and Bollywood by creating a gang of young singers in Odisha.
Mu Tumaku Bhala Paye, Sitalo Aji Jaluchi Jahara Chitalo, Ae Agana Ae Ghara, Chalire Tora Chandini, Chalire Tora Padma Phute, Pana Gua Khaira Guakati are among his popular songs and compositions.
Film director and popular lyricist Sarada Prasanna Nayak and Odisha’s first female director Parbati Ghosh were his siblings.