Bhikari Bal

Pandit Bhikari Charan Bal, popularly known in Odisha as Bhajan Samrat Bhajan is the genre of music that speaks to our so >> Read More... , was an Odissi music Guru and singer best renowned for his interpretations of ancient Odia bhajanas, devotional songs addressed to the god Jagannatha. He was born on 25 May, 1929. Bhikari Bal was born in the village of Sobala, in the Gangapada Kendrapara Block/district of Odisha, India. Bhikari enrolled at Gogua High School in Kendrapada district after finishing primary school and studied there until ninth grade. Young Bhikari joined a Jatra celebration in his hamlet, Sobala. He learnt to sing, act, and play harmonium during the Jatra party. Bhikari Bal afterwards became a music instructor at Gokulachandra Sangeeta Sadan, a local school. He married when he was 20 years old. Bhikari Bala was hired as an Odissi vocalist at Cuttack's Kalabikash Kendra.

Balakrushna Das, an Odissi master, helped him develop his voice. This was a difficult time for him, with the late singer attempting to break into All India Radio in Cuttack. After receiving amazing praises for his debut broadcast song Prana mitani bareh chahan re, he was promoted to A-grade vocalist in 1963. In the early 1970s, however, his fame soared with songs like Kotha bhoga khia, Sathie pauthi bhogaru tumara, and other devotional songs. He became well-known for his Jagannath bhajans and Gita Govinda performances. He also sang in a number of Odia films, including Bhakta Salabega, Agni Pariksha, Mathura Bijaya, Abhilasha, Amar Prem Amar Prem is an Indian romantic drama series in Ma >> Read More... , Kie Kahara, and Srikrushna Rasa Leela, among others. The singer had been bedridden for approximately a year owing to age-related diseases when he died on November 2, 2010, at around 11:20 p.m. at the SCB Medical College and Hospital.