Noted folk singer Amar Pal passed away at the age of 97 in SSKM hospital on Saturday, 20 April after suffering a cerebral attack. The veteran artiste was hospitalised due to brain haemorrhage on Friday. On Saturday, Pal took his last breath at around 5.30pm.
A regular artiste at the Akashvani Kolkata, Pal is best known for his rendition of ‘Kotoi Rongo Dekhi Duniyay’ from Satyajit Ray’s Hirak Rajar Deshe (1980).
Pal was born in Brahmanberia of undivided Bangladesh in 1922. Having lost his father at a tender age, Pal had to take up the responsibility of his family at an early age. His first music teacher was his mother Durgasundari Pal.
Pal took training in Hindustani Classical music from Ayat Ali Khan, the brother of Ustad Alauddin Khan and eventually moved to the then Calcutta after Independence.
He took further lessons in folk music from Mani Chakraborty, Suren Chakraborty and Nanigopal Bandopadhyay. Soon he started singing for Akashvani Kolkata and there was no looking back for him.
Apart from recording various folk albums and singing in Hirak Rajar Deshe, Pal also had the experience of singing in Debaki Kumar Bose and then later in Rituparno Ghosh’s films.
The singer was the recipient of Sangeet Natak Academy Award, Lalan Award and Sangeet Mahasamman Award as well. He was also conferred with the honorary Doctorate by the University of Burdwan.