Kalicharan Pattnaik

Kalicharan Pattnaik (23 December 1898 – 24 July 1978), also known by his sobriquet Kabichandra, was an eminent literary and artistic figure of Odisha. He had contributions in the field of Odissi music, Odissi dance and Odia theatre. He had significant contributions to development early Odia cinema as well. His compositions in various traditional ragas are widely sung in the field of Odissi music and dance.

Early life Kalicharan Pattnaik was born on 23 December 1898 in the then princely state of Badamba. He got his early education from Charchika school of Banki. After his education in Banki, he got into Khurda High School and after matriculation for higher education he went to Ravenshaw College Cuttack, but untimely death of his father in 1919 put a stop to his further educational career. After his end of his forma education he took up a job as a Sub-inspector of Schools at Khandapara, Ganjam.

Career Kalicharan had a keen interest in drama during his school days. He produced a play Babaji and with the help of his school friends. It was inspired from another play Kanchi Kaveri by Ramashankar Ray. In his childhood, he trained in Odissi classical music from legends such as Pt Basudeb Mahapatra and Khanu Mian.

Works In Odia literature Drama was mostly focussed on some restrictive categories such as mythology. Kalicharan broke this restriction with his dramas with socially relevant topics.

Some of his major published works are as per below.

Dance Drama Kalanka Bhanjana (କଳଙ୍କ ଭଞ୍ଜନ) Daridrya Bhanjana (ଦାରିଦ୍ର୍ୟ ଭଞ୍ଜନ) Milana Madhuri (ମିଳନ ମାଧୁରୀ) Shree Radha(ଶ୍ରୀ ରାଧା) Banshurira Bilapa(ବାଂସୁରୀର ବିଳାପ) Shree Geeta Gobinda(ଶ୍ରୀ ଗୀତ ଗୋବିନ୍ଦ) Preeti Sudhakara(ପ୍ରୀତି ସୁଧାକର) Laxmi(ଲକ୍ଷ୍ମୀ) Koutuka Chintamani(କୌତୁକ ଚିନ୍ତାମଣୀ) Kishore Chandrananda Champu(କିଶୋର ଚନ୍ଦ୍ରାନନ୍ଦ ଚମ୍ପୂ) Manini(ମାନିନୀ) Akhira Dekha(ଆଖିର ଦେଖା) Dehi Padapallaba mudaram(ଦେହି ପଦପଲ୍ଲବ ମୁଦାରଂ)

Mythologacal Drama Dhrub(ଧ୍ରୁବ) Mrigaya(ମୃଗୟା) Bana Bihara(ବନ ବିହାର) Bidyabali(ବିଦ୍ୟାବଳୀ) Shakuntala(ଶକୁନ୍ତଳା) Harischandta(ହରିଶ୍ଚନ୍ଦ୍ର) Chakri(ଚକ୍ରୀ) Dashabhuja(ଦଶଭୂଜା)

Historical Drama Abhijana(ଅଭିଯାନ) Malati(ମାଳତୀ) Rakta Mandara(ରକ୍ତ ମନ୍ଦାର)

Edited works

Sangita Narayana of Kabiratna Purusottama Misra, Gajapati Sarbagya Jagannatha Narayana Deva (ସଙ୍ଗୀତ ନାରାୟଣ) Kabisurjya Gitabali of Kabisurjya Baladeba Ratha (କବିସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଗୀତାବଳୀ)