CUTTACK: Legendary actor, filmmaker and one of the pioneers of Odia cinema Gopal Ghosh passed away here early on Friday. He was 94 and is survived by wife, five sons and two daughters. He suffered a massive heart attack and was rushed to the SCB Medical College and Hospital where he succumbed.
Born in Raghunathpur village of Jagatsinghpur district, the then undivided Cuttack, Ghosh’s inclination towards acting and stage was natural. He started acting from the age of six and became one of the top theatre actors of his time. He then proceeded to be a trend-setting producer and director of Odia cinema, which won him accolades and prestigious awards including the President’s medal and Sangeet Natak Academy award for acting.
His famous films include ‘Amari Gaon Jhia’ in 1953, ‘Shri Loknath’ in 1960 which won the first President’s silver medal and ‘Ghara Sansara’ in 1973. He had also acted in scores of films including the famous ‘Sri Jagannath’ opposite Gloria Mohanty in 1950.
Besides movies, Ghosh was a critically acclaimed documentary filmmaker with films like ‘Black Pagoda’ on the Sun Temple of Konark (1949) gaining rave reviews from across the globe. The film had been selected by the then US Ambassador L Anderson and sent to his Government for screening. Ghosh had made over 100 documentaries in his career that include Freedom Fighters and Jails in Odisha, Historical Monuments, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Quit India Movement and Praja Mandal Movement. The documentaries have been telecast by Doordarshan.
Ghosh was also a top football player and had represented Odisha in the game. He had also been a radio artiste featuring in His Master’s Voice (HMV) and All India Radio (AIR) Cuttack and Kolkata.
His demise has been condoled by the film fraternity in the State with prominent personalities visiting his residence at Nandi Sahi to pay their last respects. The funeral was conducted at Khan Nagar on Friday afternoon.