A pal of gloom descended on Sambalpur following death of son of soil Sarat Pujari.
The romantic hero of 1960s, who carved a niche for himself in the cine industry with his acting prowess, hailed from Jhaduapada in Sambalpur town.
He was born on August 8, 1934 at Khandpada in Nayagarh to late Sachinanda Pujari and late Sushila Pujari, where his father worked as a civil servant.
People in Western Odisha remember him as a brilliant educationist. In 1968, he took over as principal of Larambha College at the age of 34. People recalled that parents admitted their wayward children to Larambha College and they came out with flying colours.
Pujari’s tryst with Odia films began in 1958 when he acted in ‘Sri Mahalaxmi Puja’.
There was no looking back since then. His internationally acclaimed ‘Bhukha’ was a Sambalpuri film.
Terming Pujari’s death as a personal loss, Odia cine actor Pruthiwraj Nayak said he owes his career to the veteran actor. Former Collector Jyoti Prakash Das recalled the painting skills of Pujari. “On one occasion I had gone to fetch tea for Pujari and in the meanwhile, he had painted a portrait of mine which I will treasure till my last breath,” he said.
Convenor of VSS Sambalpuri Drama Festival Jagdish Mishra, who is also the resident of Jhaduapada, said Pujari was the pride of the region and an actor par excellence. “Our team will remember him as someone who always took keen interest in promoting theatre,” he said.
Condolence meetings were convened by a local organisation Yuba Udayan at Jhaduapada and in other parts of Western Odisha.
