Sala Budha is no more . . .

 

Senior actor Atal Bihari Panda is no more. He died at Burla Hospital at 3.45am today. Atal Bihari Panda, a senior actor who lost his wife, was being treated at Burla Hospital in critical condition for diabetes. Prominent actor in the world of Oriya cinema held his hand and walked away with his wife. The dream of seeing ‘Shalabudha’ again, remained a dream.

Renowned lyricist, playwright, theater and film actor Atal Bihari Panda was born in Binika, Subarnapur district. He has acted in plays since the age of 18 and has acted in about a hundred plays in his life. He has written 45 stage and radio plays, many of them in Sambalpuri. He is one of the leading playwrights of Sambalpuri drama.

His "Fata Kapal" was the first printed Sambalpuri play. His second Sambalpuri play, "Vains Aage Nagdhuni", is a well-known play. On the advice of Dr. Harekrishna Mahatab, he wrote six operas. His opera "Bagha Matichi" caused a stir. Mani collection and tired afternoon are two of his most popular Oriya plays. As a lyricist, he has written many famous Sambalpuri songs. He is the lyricist of most of the popular songs sung by popular singer Fakir Patnaik.

He surprised people by making his debut in 2013 as an actor at the age of 93 in the Sambalpuri film "Shala Budha". The next two Sambalpuri films, directed by Sabyasachi Mohapatra, attracted the attention of Atal Bihari Panda in exchange for primitive judgment and Shala Budha.

The Odisha government has awarded him the State Film Award for Best Actor. In 2014, Atal Bihari Panda was awarded the prestigious Ditto by Sambalpur University.

He was in government service. After retirement, he lived in Burla. It was in Burla that Atal Bihari Panda breathed his last.