Actor Uttam Mohanty pays his last respects to Pujari. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, May 12: Lalatendu Rath, a noted theatre director and playwright, bid goodbye to Sarat Pujari last night with the promise that they would later discuss his play Bahara Loka, which sadly turned out to be the last play that the celebrated actor saw before passing away.

Sarat Pujari’s granddaughter in tears

But a man of his word, Pujari did fulfil his promise. He left a letter each for the director and playwright of the play that was staged at Rabindra Mandap and enacted by members of Rourkela-based Pratidhwani troupe.

After returning home from the play, 80-year-old Pujari stayed awake till late in the night to pen his feelings about the play in the letters.

“He appeared completely fine till 12.30am, until when he was writing the letters. But after my mother gave him his daily medicines, he just sat quiet for a few minutes and it was then we realised that he was having a heart attack,” said son Soumen Pujari, also an actor. He was taken to a private hospital, where he was declared dead.

The cast of Bahara Loka say they will cherish his presence during their last night’s act forever.

“When the cast and crew members came to take a bow, I saw him standing and I felt so bad that a man of his stature had to stand for us. But he was like that. Whenever he liked something, he would never hide his emotions. That standing ovation was his way of telling us how much he liked the play,” said Rath, who is awaiting the letter that Pujari wrote for him.

“His words always meant a lot to me. I will always treasure that letter once I get it,” he said.

The play was organised by Odisha Natya Sangha and its president Dhira Mallick also confirmed that the play that dealt with the theme of sin and penance narrating the story of a man, his wife and his father had really moved Pujari.

A resident of the housing board colony in Chandrasekharpur, Pujari was also Mallick’s neighbour and his death has left the latter deeply saddened.

A host of film actors, directors, music composers and singers paid him a last visit at his house this morning. Since he was the former principal of Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, his body way also carried to the institute after which the family and well-wishers started for Puri for the last rites. The veteran actor and filmmaker was given a guard of honour by the police.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik and governor S.C. Jamir also offered their condolences. Pujari, who was president of the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi at the time of his death, has left the whole fraternity of artistes bereaved.

Music composer Prafulla Kar bids farewell to the legendary actor

Prominent film personalities such as Uttam Mohanty, Prashant Nanda, Debu Bose, music composer Prafulla Kar, Odissi dancer Ratikant Mohapatra, vocalist Sangita Gosain and music director Laxmikant Palit visited him at either his house or the Mahavidyalaya.

“He was an inspiration for us. We wanted to be actors after watching his performances. But after getting to interact with him during various films, his humility, simplicity and visionary intellect left me moved,” said veteran actor Uttam Mohanty.

Prafulla Kar, who was seated beside Pujari during Sunday’s play, said he was heartbroken to know his friend had left him.

Pujari was born on August 8, 1934, in Nayagarh. Though an economics graduate, he attained a diploma in paintings from Allahabad University owing to his love for the visual arts.

But later, he joined as a lecturer in economics in Panchayat College, Bargarh, that he left in 1966 to join Tapang Light Foundry, Nayagarh, as a works manager.

With a strong affinity towards drama and other performing arts, he gained attention of filmmakers at various theatre festivals. He was offered a role in the film Mahalaxmi Puja in 1958, when he made his debut in the Odia film industry. Quitting his job, he turned into a freelance film actor from 1966 to 1968. Yet, his love for teaching led him to join as principal in Larambha College, Bargarh, when he was just 34.

File picture of Pujari (circled in red) in the company of Indira Gandhi, Dara Singh (seated in the centre) and Prithviraj Kapoor (seated with a walking stick). Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

His unforgettable roles in Matira Manisha (1966) as Baraju directed by Mrinal Sen, in A.K. Bir’s Aranyaka as Raja Saheb and a negative role in Sabyasachi Mohapatra’s Sambalpuri film Bhukha in 1989 let endeared him to the viewers. He even directed some impressive films such as Taopoi, Astaraga and Ashantagraha. He was last seen in Gadadhar Puty’s National Award-winning film Puja Pain Phulatie.

A proud Odia, Pujari, in his column for The Telegraph on the occasion of the 75th year of formation of Odisha, insisted that there should be frequent interaction through travelling among people of all regions of the state.

“I have seen the life of Odisha, touched and felt the different soils, the winds and their stories in every district of the state and tasted all its moments of success and breakdown. This is what makes the human being that is me, Odia,” he had written.

Pujari, along with his wife, granddaughter and daughter-in-law, lived with his younger son Soumen in the Chandrasekharpur house.

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