Odisha bids tearful adieu to actor-director Hara Patnaik

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Jan 14:

Teary-eyed family members, fans and scores of Ollywood artists paid their last respects to veteran Odisha actor-director Hara Patnaik as his mortal remains were consigned to flames at Satichaura crematorium here this afternoon.

The legendary artist’s nephew—Anirudha Patnaik-- and his two daughters—Arjya Patnaik and Ananya Patnaik-- lit the funeral pyre at around 3 PM today. One of the frontline actors, directors and screenplay writers of Ollywood, Hara Patnaik, was laid to rest amidst chanting of Sanskrit hymns in the presence of family members, fans and members of Odia film fraternity.

The funeral procession began in a flower-bedecked vehicle from his residence at Bidanasi to the office of the Odisha Motion Pictures Technician and Workers’ Association (OMPTWA) at about 11.30 AM en route to the Satichaura crematorium after the arrival of his younger daughter, Ananya, from Bengaluru.

From there, it was taken to the Annapurna Theatre where the multifaceted Patnaik had begun his acting career and then to the Union Club where the veteran actor used to spend his leisure time with his peers.

The body was next taken to the Police High School where Patnaik did his formal education. From there, amidst shouting of ‘Ram Naam Satya Hai’, his body was taken to the crematorium.

Actors Anubhav Mohanty, Sabyasachi, Pintu Nanda and others lifted the pyre on their shoulders and went round the streets before reaching the cremation ground.

A sea of humanity that included many well-known Ollywood actors, directors and political leaders accompanied the departed soul to the cremation ground here. In the presence of a host of film personalities and people from all walks of life, Patnaik was laid to rest.

The people raised slogans of ‘Hara Bhai Amar Rahe’ and 'Hara Bhai Zindabad' as the funeral ceremonies got underway.

Ollywood baddie and director Hara Patnaik, who ruled the hearts of cine lovers in Odisha for over two decades, breathed his last at a private hospital on Wednesday following a protracted illness in Bhubaneswar.

Hara Patnaik was admitted to the Sparsh Hospital after the killer cancer relapsed. He had slipped into coma and finally left for the heavenly abode at 12.40 pm yetsterday.

The veteran actor, whose blood group was the rare B-ve, needed frequent blood transfusions in these one and a half years of his illness. He had also underwent bone marrow transplant during his treatment.

The 55-year-old ace reel villain was undergoing treatment at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore with an advanced stage of blood cancer detected in April 2008.