The unprecedented success of Maya Darpan, a collection of poems from Mayadhar Mansingh’s book Dhupa, released in 2007, set the ball rolling for a new trend in contemporary Odia music.
The team behind its success Om Prakash Mohanty and Devdas Chottray presented Hati Sajakara in 2008, Nua luha Puruna luha in 2010, and during the last two years Radio Days and an Odia version of Omar Khayyam’s writings titled Rubait.
The vacuum created and the steep downfall in the world of contemporary Odia music after the sad demise of Akshaya Mohanty has now turned a new leaf with these collections of music sung by Susmita Das.
Das’ ability to uniquely blend Odia culture and tradition with value-based lyrics has broadened the expanse of music in the State. Set against this backdrop, Gotie Sari, the latest project from Devdas, Susmita and Om Prakash is set to provide a new dimension to music and entertainment in Odisha. It will be released at a function at Rabindra Bhawan here on Monday evening. The eight songs of Gotie Sari are based on folk tunes and sung by Susmita, who always tries to promote quality Odia music.
The lyrics bring forth facets of daily life in pristine rural settings and have been penned by eminent literary personalities like Devdas Chhotray and Pratibha Ray and contemporary lyricists like Mohit Chakraborty and Kulamani Biswal. The collection tells its audience of a musical evening in a village. The compositions by noted musician Om Prakash Mohanty provide a unique fusion of the traditional with modernity and transcend the borders of Odisha.
The style of rendition and the feelings of the numbers are inspired by popular folk tunes from different States of India and even from different parts of the world. Yet, they do not dilute the delicate fabric of the Odia culture or erode the richness of the Odia language. It goes without saying that Gotie Sari will be adored for the finer details that it captures and presents with refinement to its listeners.
