In Memory: Veteran Actor, Lyricist and Music Composer, Swaroop Naik (February 8, 1947 - October 27, 2023)

In Memory: Veteran Actor, Lyricist and Music Composer, Swaroop Naik (February 8, 1947 - October 27, 2023)

“A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others.” This quote by Spanish artist Salvador Dalí best describes the life of noted Odia actor, lyricist and music composer Swaroop Naik. The legend passed away on 27 October while undergoing treatment for cancer at a private hospital here on Friday. He was 76 and is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Who can forget the songs  like ‘Sitalo Aji Jaluchi Jahara Chitalo’, ‘Ae agana ae ghara’, ‘Odisha Mo Odisha’, ‘Pana Gua Khaira Guakati’ and many more. Be it his acting as a comedian in the film ‘Stree’ (1968) or evolving a new era of negative roles he created in the film ‘Suna Sansar’ (1997). Be it ‘Gaan Majhire Chandini’, the album song which poured earthen smell to love or be it the title song of the film  ‘Maa Pari Kie Haba’ (1999) dedicated to all the mothers, Naik has created a special place in audiences heart through his craft.

A native of Cuttack, hailing from a family that was into film production, Naik was the younger brother of veteran Odia filmmaker and popular lyricist of the 60s and 70s, Sarada Prasanna Naik and legendary Parbati Ghose, while his father Basudev Nayak, was the manager of famous Manmohan Press. 

Starting his journey as a child artist in ‘Jaydeb’ (1962), later he acted in  ‘Lakhmi’ (1962), ‘Kaa’ (1965) and he got into fame with his comic acting in the film ‘Stree’ (1968), which was directed by Parbati and her husband, legendary actor and filmmaker Gour Prasad Ghose.

“Towards the end of the 50s, the film ‘Jaydeb’ was being made, where Naik was a child artist. The release of the film was delayed. After that also he has acted in few other films. Then again he got a big break through his sister and brother-in-law’s film ‘Lakhmi’, where he played a blind man who lived off alms, singing the song ‘Arata Surebare Kare Minati’. His song ‘Kali Juga Krushna Muhin, Tu Mo Heroine,’ sung by the legend Akshay Mohanty in their film ‘Stree’ was a big hit of the time. Naik not only wrote the song for the first time, he was also featured and danced in the same,” added Veteran Cine Journalist and National Award winning author Surya Deo.

Naik won the State Film Award for both best lyrics and best music in 1995, 1999, 2002 and 2005. He is noted for his works in Odia cinemas like ‘Pua Mora Bhola Shankar’, ‘Sahara Jaluchi’, ‘Sindura Nuhen Khela Ghara’, ‘I Love You’, ‘Premi No 1’, ‘Kathantara’ and ‘Swayamsiddha’. He has composed music for about 42 films, acted in more than 26 films. A unique record is there in his name, which is in 26 films he has both composed and penned the lyrics of the songs of those films. Starting from ‘Hira Nila’ (1984),  ‘Swayamsiddha’ was his last film as a music composer.

After the film ‘Sapana Banika’ (1985), Prasant Nanda took him to his camp, where he acted in his other films like, ‘Dora’, ‘Jaga Balia’, ‘Paka kambala pota chhata’ and wrote the songs too. The legendary actor Prashanta Nanda is Naik’s childhood friend. He said, “We used to act together in the plays of ‘Akashvani’, Cuttack. When his elder sister Chapala Naik aka Parbati Ghose (We used to call her Chapala Didi) started making films along with his husband Gour Prasad Ghose, he was the main support behind them. While I was doing my film ‘Dora’, I went to his home and asked him to work with me. He agreed and we started working together. I have suggested that he compose for ‘Hira Nila’ then he did it brilliantly. It is a personal loss for people like me and for our entire film fraternity.”

Remembering him, Ollywood's mega star Siddhant Mohapatra said, “I used to call him Aja (maternal grandfather), because as a distant relative, I used to consider him as my Aja. After veteran actor Dukhiram Swain, he was the person who used to call me ‘Natia’ (grandson) loudly wherever we met. In 1994 we started working together with the film ‘Lakhe Siba Puji Paichi Pua’. latter on films like ‘Mana Rahigala Tumari Thare’, ‘Mo kola to jhulana’, ‘Maa Pari Kie Heba’ and many more. In the film ‘Subhadra’ there was a song titled ‘Tike haule haule chala, e rasta sara khala’ is still a very popular peppy song.”

He took a gap and worked as a contractor. But his passion for film, music and writing compelled him to resume his film career.  Adding more about his break from the industry Deo said, “He has actually brought back the satire in Odia songs. During the year 1930, satire entered into modern Odia songs. Kabichandra Kalicharan Pattnaik and Banchhanidhi Pattnaik did few gramophone records which includes satirical songs like ‘Jadi Mun Mantri Hebi’ and ‘Chakiri Chak Mari’. 

Before entering into films Swaroop Naik was very popular for his parody songs made adapting Hindi songs on stage. For example there was a song ‘Mera Naam Chameli’, he changed it to ‘Mun Ate Katakia, Bada Penchua, Tarakasia’. ‘Ae Mere watan ke Logon’ became ‘Aei Mo Desa Ra Jete Bhai Bhauni’.

While on break from the film industry he was working as a contractor at Samal Barrage, Angul. Even during that period he didn’t stop writing. He has written a few brilliant satire songs like , ‘Le Labina Tike Pachaku Ana’, ‘Mari Deli Khapara Kati Udi Gala Tia’, ‘Baramaja Khao Chhaka Re Chida Hua’, ‘Bata Chada Asuchi Dasara Bajara Medha’ and many more there. The songs were later recorded in a gramophone recorder.”

He started his second innings from the ‘Suna Sansar’ (1977). He played the negative character in that film. He continued acting in several other films like Jaga Balia and Dora in different characters and ended his acting journey in Kalinga Putra (2008).

Veteran actor and OFDC chairman Kuna Tripathy, who used to call him Babu Mamu (Uncle)  said, “He has changed the definition of negative roles in films before that in this film, which I feel only artists like him can do. As people know, I used to consider Parbati Ghose as my mother, so he was like my uncle. He was a god gifted artist, he was brilliant in everything he attempted. He is a terrific lyricist. We have seen people crying in cinema halls watching the song ‘Ae agana ae ghara’.

I like the fact that he was one of those few people who have always believed in young talents and given them a chance. He is the person who has given chance to some brilliant singers like T Shourie, Kumar Bapi, Tapu Mishra, Ira Mohanty, Subhasis Mahakud and many more. He used to appreciate my work. As I used to write ‘Katki Kabita’ (Poems using Cuttack’s colloquial theme), he used to praise me and encourage me to continue that.

There was a ‘Tungi’ (small out house) inside the premises of Parbati Ghose’s house. That is the place where Mamu sits with his team and makes music and other creative stuff. I am blessed to be a part of their discussion sometimes. I have listened to many of his hit songs being composed there.”

One of the finest singers of the O-town, T Shourie, was singing at a stage show at Kafla Bazar, Cuttack, that was the first time when Naik listened to his voice sitting at his home which was nearby. He said, “After the show he called me up to meet and gave his landline number and asked me to call him after a few days. Before I could call him we met at another event and there he offered to sing my debut song which is ‘Sita lo’ from the iconic film ‘Udandi Sita’. I feel blessed to get the opportunity to work with such a legend in most of the films he was composing for.

He was a jolly person. His presence filled the environment with happiness and laughter. I remember during the off season of stage shows I had long hair and was walking by the streets of Cuttack. Dada was passing by and stopped his car upon seeing me. He asked me if any of my relatives died or what was the reason for my long hair. I smiled and replied I’ll cut it soon. To that he replied, “Don’t do that, it suits you”. From that day, till now, I have continued having long hair. I feel proud and lucky getting a godfather like him in the industry.”

Remembering the earlier days another renowned singer who has got the first break through Naik said, “The time when we started our career as singers was the time when 99% of Odia songs were sung by Bombay (now Mumbai) singers. Like many others I also started my career as a dummy singer. Babu Dada was always clear about which singer would fit which song. I started working with Dada with the film ‘Nari Nuhen Tu Narayani’, then ‘Je Panche Para Manda’, ‘Kulanandana’ and ‘Ae Jugara Krushna Sudama’. ‘I Love You’ is my fourth film with Dada which became a big hit of all time.

I belong to a poor family and as a dummy singer we used to get 400 rupees per song. Dada is the person who trusted me and gave me film songs to sing. He used to take us to the recording studio at Kolkata and we used to stay at the Utkal Bhawan during our recordings. That was like a dream come true for me. No one can replace his place in my heart.”

Tripathy feels he is a god gifted talent. He said, “He was not a trained musician, but was god gifted. Sometimes we wonder how someone can do so well in music without any professional training. He created his own place with his music. He was very connected with the legend Akshay Mohanty himself. He had shared with me that there were times when he and Akshay Mohanty roamed the city on a bicycle.

After Kantakabi Lakshmikanta Mahapatra’s ‘Bande Utkala Janai’, ‘Odisha mo Odisha’ is the song which was celebrated like an anthem for the state. In the film ‘Kalinga Putra’ where he was seen for the last time on the big screen,  he used his song ‘Odisha mo Odisha’ sung by T Shourie. When it was released on TV, the song was a chorus.”

Compiling all his satirical songs Naik published a book in 2018 titled ‘Bhala Byabasaya Rajaniti’. Adding more about the book Deo said, “He knew me as a journalist and used to discuss a lot about his work with me. He even insisted that I write the preface of this book. This is the only book he has written and published.”

We at My City Links pray for a heavenly abode for the departed soul of this legend.