NIRMALA Mishra, veteran singer, dies

EMINENT singer Nirmala Mishra, who has contributed several   timeless songs giving a new dimension to the golden age of Bengali   and Odiya music, has passed away at her Chetla residence in South Kolkata. Born in 1938 in South 24 Paraganas district to Pandit Mohinimohana Mishra and Bhabani Devi on the eve of Durga Saptami, she made her singing debut in 1960. Music director Balakrushna Das gave her a chance to sing a song for the first time in the Odia movie Shri Lokanath. Mishra is a recipient of the Sangeet Sudhakar Balakrushna Das Award  for her lifetime contribution to Odia music. Mishra was play back singer for   several Bengali and Odia films. She was under treatment for age-related ailments. “She suffered a massive heart attack around 12.05 am  on Sunday, July 31, and was rushed  to the nearest nursing home  where she was declared dead,” Dr Kaushik Chakravarty, her  doctor,  told PTI. Her popular Bengali songs include ‘Eamon Ekta Jhinuk’, ‘Bolo to Arshi’ and ‘Eai Banglar Mati Te’.Some of her hit Odia songs are ‘Nida Bhara Raati Madhu Jhara Janha’ and ‘Mo Mana Beena Ra Taare’. She was one of the most respected and admired playback singers in both Odia and Bengali films. Her father’s Monimohan Mishra’s original surname was Bandopadhyay, he was given honorific title of Mishra. Besides film songs, she was also popular for singing   Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Geeti, Shyama Sangeet and patriotic songs. Her father, who was also a musician of repute and was awarded Pandit, had settled in Chetla for his job. Nirmala Mishra grew up in a musical environment. Besides her father, her elder brother Murarimohan Mishra, was also a famous singer. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, noted  actor  Prosenjit  Chatterjee  ,several  noted musicians including  Usha  Utthup  have mourned her passing away saying  her death is  loss  to the music world. Edited by PK Chakravarty  Pic courtesy NDTV.com