Singer Antara Chakraborty performs at Smruti Tume Akshaya in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 18: The musical journey of the legendary Akshaya Mohanty was brought alive on the occasion of his 12th death anniversary at a melodious evening in the city today.

Commemorating Mohanty’s immense contribution to the Odia music industry, veteran and amateur singers presented several chartbusters that were scripted, sung or composed by their beloved Khoka bhai.

The programme, Smruti Tume Akshaya, was organised by the Odisha Cine Critic Association and the state cultural department at the Rabindra Mandap.

Young singers crooned a number of romantic numbers of the popular singer such as Bayasara krushnachuda ranga tuma, Chota ama ghara thila sunare tiari, Aa khili pana banaku jiba among others.

The duet songs depicted the passion of the late singer and his strong belief in love.

A number of prominent female vocalists such as Sailabhama Mohapatra, Sangita Gosain, Geeta Pattnaik, Mitali Chinara and Adyasha Das hummed popular songs of the legendary singer. The male vocalists were not left behind with Bichitrananda Deo, Sourav Nayak and Bishnu Sarangi singing one hit after another.

Young singers also joined in to pay tribute to the multifaceted musician.

While Antara Chakraborty’s recital of the popular song Mu je amruta sagara bindu took the audience into a spiritual trip, Sasmita Das’s Dheu sathire khelibaku mana was extremely mellifluous.

“I feel honoured that I got an opportunity to sing his compositions. He is an inspiration for young singers and musicians. The dedication that he had for music should be imbibed by the upcoming generations,” said Antara.

Mohanty’s contribution to the Odia music industry ranges from composing film songs and bhajans to ballads and folk songs.

He also has the credit of lending his voice in over 125 films.

The esteemed Akshaya Sahitya Samman Award, constituted in memory of the musician’s literary skills, was conferred on litterateur Sulochana Das.

Fans in large numbers gathered at the auditorium. “I grew up listening to his music and the eagerness to listen to his songs is as fresh as it was years ago,” said 55-year-old businessman Gopal Chandra Mohanty, who thoroughly enjoyed the show.