Akshaya Mohanty

Akshaya Mohanty was born on October 12, 1936, in Cuttack, to Bichitrananda Mohanty and Subarna Manjari Mohanty. He had no formal musical training. He joined a government job in 1956 in his hometown of Cuttack but left after seven years in 1963. In 1956, he was approved as a lyricist by All India Radio, Cuttack. By 1959, he had been authorized as an All India Radio composer. Akshaya was a true prodigy in his field. In the 1950s, he made his debut as a vocalist with the song ‘Gadiala Bhai Dharichhi Sura Re’ 'Gori Gori Gori' from the Odia film ' Maa Story soon >> Read More... ' was his first song as a playback vocalist (1959). Years passed, and he donned various hats, including those of a singer, lyricist, composer, and director.

He was a cultural leader who was able to create public taste in popular music by balancing creative exploration with popular demand. For two reasons, Mohanty felt compelled to accept popular music. The first reason was a necessity: he became a professional musician early in his career and had to sell his songs to make ends meet.The second was that he regarded celebrity as a way to sway public opinion. By incorporating fresh, more urban themes, he introduced 'modernity' to Odia music - a music tradition with significant origins in classical Odissi and folk music.

His work as a composer and songwriter, though he was better known for his singing, was equally impressive. And, because he adored the Ghazal, he has also written lyrics for several songs in this style. His art combined the ghazal's romanticism and spirituality with ordinary people's lives. The Ghazal Parampara (tradition) in Odia is usually acknowledged to have begun with Mohanty. It's been exactly 20 years since he died away, but the charm of his songs is still as peaceful as ever.