Kolkata, July 31: Famed singer Nirmala Mishra, who carved out a niche for herself in both Bengali and Odia songs, passed away at her south Kolkata residence early Sunday following a massive cardiac arrest, family sources said.
Mishra, 81, bedridden since a brain stroke in 2015, left behind her husband and son.
Born in 1938 in the then Bengal presidency’s 24 Parganas district, Mishra received the Sangeet Sudhakar Balakrushna Das Award for her lifetime contribution to Odia music.
The West Bengal government conferred on her Sangeet Sanman in 2012, and Sangeet Mashasanman and Bongobibhusan in 2013 for her contribution to music.
The state government made arrangements to keep the singer’s mortal remains at the city’s cultural hub Rabindra Sadan complex for public viewing from 11 am before cremation on Sunday.
Mishra earned huge popularity as a playback singer in Odiya films and for her rendition of Bengali modern songs as also for giving voice to hit numbers in Bengali movies in the 1960s and 1970s.
Stree, Kaa, Malajanha, Abhinetree, Anutap, Kie Kaahaara, Amadaa Baata, and Adina Megha are among the Odia movies where she lent her golden voice.
‘Nida bhara raati madhu jhara janha’ from the 1975 Odia movie ‘Anutapa’, has retained its appeal to date. ‘Mo mana beena ra taare’, ‘Jochhana luchana’, Jeebana jamuna re juara uthe re’, ‘Jaa Jaa re bhasi jaa,” ‘chhapi chhapi baasanti raati” ‘mun tumaku bhala paae luchhi luchika’, ‘Aa mayabini mana jochhana’, ‘Sei nilapari deshe’, are among her other memorable Odia film songs.
Her superhit Bengali modern songs include “Eamun Ekta Jhinuk”, ‘Abese mukh rekhe piyal dale”, “Bolo to arshi”, “Mone Koro mone mone”, “Eai banglar mati tea”, “Ogo tomar akash duti choke, O tota Pakhi rea” and “Chotto Sea kotha Bhalobasa”.
Mishra has also sung Bengali film songs like “Tumi Akash eakhun jodi”, “Ami hariye felechi ganer sathire”, “rimijhimi rimijhimi”, “Choker moni hariye khuji”, “Oi akasher Chand” which were once on every music lover’s lips.
In her condolence message, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Mishra’s demise was a great loss to the music world
