Asha Bhosle to receive Akshaya Samman

BHUBANESWAR: Veteran singer Asha Bhosle will be the recipient of the 5th Akshaya Samman instituted by Akshaya Mohanty Foundation in memory of the legendary Oriya singer, lyricist and composer. The honour carries a memento, citation and a cash award of ` 1 lakh.  The award would be conferred on the 63-year-old singer during the Akshaya Utsav that is celebrated every year on October 12 - the birth anniversary of Akshaya Mohanty.The Akshaya Samman was instituted in 2007 and the previous awardees have been Illaiyaraja , Manna De, Gulzar and Hari Prasad Chaurasia. Asha Bhosle was chosen for her life-time contribution in the field of music, said Pramila Mohanty, wife of the legendary singer. Asha has sung in 18 different languages including Oriya. Some of her memorable Oriya songs are ‘Jhimi Jhimi Ta Maaja Dakile Na Chhadibu’ from movie Samaya (1976), ‘Janha Go Tume Jhurana’ from ‘Aarati’ and ‘Mun Hajichhi Tuma Aakhire’ (1977) from ‘Sandhya Taara’.  A jury comprising noted lyricist, Akshaya’s intimate friend and Ravenshaw University Vice-Chancellor Debdas Chhotray, noted journalist Sampad Mohapatra and Foundation president and singer Bibhu Das chose Asha for the honour. This was revealed today at a press conference. The foundation was established in memory of Akshaya who gave a new identity to Oriya popular music. “Genius and legendary are terms that are rather loosely bandied. Included among the few to whom the terms fit is Akshaya Mohanty, arguably the pre-eminent influence as a creator of post-independent Oriya culture, appealing to the mass and class in equal measure,” said Gyanaranjan Mohapatra, member of the Foundation. Born in 1937, Akshaya, popularly known as “Khoka bhai” died in 2002. Speaking on the occasion, Mohapatra lamented that “Khoka Bhai” during his lifetime inevitably did not get what he deserved. Additionally, his prolific body of creativity has not been documented,  preserved, propagated or popularised as it rightly deserves. Earlier in the day, the results of State-level Akshaya Sangeet competition-2011 were also announced. Arunima Sahoo and Rajib Lochan Das were announced winners at the senior and junior levels respectively. The awards will be given away on October 12. This year, the State-level Akshaya Sangeet Sangeet competition was organised in Berhampur, Balasore, Bhubaneswar, Nabarangpur and Rourkela. The finale was held at Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya.