Eminent singer dead

CUTTACK: Eminent singer and music director Atish Kumar Majumdar passed away following a protracted illness here on Thursday. He was 79 and survived by his daughter-lawyer Sonali Chatterji.Atish was best known as music director of the award-winning Odia movie “Shasti”, based on the novel by Kanhu Charan Mohanty in 1990. The film had received the State Award while the Government had made it tax free.Atish had been a playback singer in numerous Odia films. He had also been a singer for All India Radio and made several bhajan albums. He had been honoured with several awards and titles.Born in 1933, Atish showed flair for singing and music from his childhood. Under the tutelage of his mother, who was trained in classical music, he took his first steps into the world of song and music.He bagged the Orissa Sangeet Natak Academy award in 2002. He was also bestowed with the prestigious Sarala Samman in 2009. The All India Radio, Cuttack, had also honoured him on his completion of 50 years of singing for the broadcaster in 2002.Members of the film and music industry mourned his death. His last rites were held at the Khan Nagar crematorium.