Prafulla Kar has been captivating audiences in Odisha and beyond for over forty years with his unique singing, compositions, and heartfelt lyrics. His talent as a performer shines through, enchanting a wide range of listeners. But that’s not all – Prafulla Kar’s genius as a Music Director and Lyricist has elevated him to the status of a respected Cultural Icon. In both his home state and abroad, his music’s allure remains strong, drawing in fans from all walks of life. Prafulla Kar’s mesmerizing melodies and powerful impact have truly made him an exemplary figure in the realm of music.

Prafulla Kar, born in 1939, was raised in a family of musicians in the peaceful town of Puri, which is known as the divine abode of Lord Jagannath. From a young age, it was evident that he possessed a natural talent for singing. His father’s older brother, Sri Kshetra Mohan Kar, was a respected tabla player who had the ability to attract renowned artists like Hirabai Barodekar, Maitra, A Kanan, Malabika Kanan, and many others to their humble home.
As a result, young Prafulla had the wonderful opportunity to listen to these esteemed musicians from an early age, allowing him to dive deep into the enchanting world of music. It was as if music was ingrained in his very soul. However, tragedy struck when he lost his father at a tender age.

Fortunately, Prafulla found solace and support from his maternal uncles, who played a significant role in nurturing his musical journey. In addition, his loving grandparents, Bhagban Mishra and Aparna Devi, provided him with invaluable moral and spiritual guidance, shaping him into the person he is today.

Education

He first earned his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees from Utkal University. Later, he pursued his passion for music and obtained the Sangeet Visharad from Akhil Bharat Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Maharashtra, under the guidance of Pt. Markandeya Mohapatra. He also learned Odishi Music from renowned gurus in Puri, immersing himself in its rich cultural heritage.

His musical journey officially started in 1960 when he embarked on a professional career. With his exceptional talent, he quickly gained recognition as an A-Grade Vocalist, Composer, and Lyricist for All India Radio.

Achievements in Film Music

Prafulla Kar, a talented musician, has provided music direction for over 70 Odia films, both released and unreleased. He has also contributed his musical talents to four Bengali films. His exceptional work in the field of film music has garnered recognition from the Government of Odisha. Sri Kar has been honored with the prestigious Best Music Director Award for Odia films on eight occasions. Remarkably, six of these awards were consecutively conferred, setting a notable record even on a national level.

For Best Music Director

~ Mamata (1975)
~ Sesha Srabana (1976)
~ Bandhu Mohanty (1977)
~ Mukti (1977)
~ Sati Anasuya (1978)
~ Tapasya (1980)
~ Sita Lavakusha (1981)
~ School Master (1985)

For Best Playback Singer

~ Balidan (1979)

He achieved remarkable success and gained fame, receiving accolades from the Cine Musicians Union in Chennai. In 1979, the Government of Odisha honored him with the Best Playback Singer award for his work in the Odia film Balidan, and the Critic Circle of India recognized him as the Best Music Director for the Odia film Ramayana in 1980. Till this day, he stands as an influential figure in the world of pan-Indian music.

Under his music direction, many well-known playback singers from different parts of India have lent their voices for Odia and Bengali films. Some of these talented singers include Anuradha Paudwal, Usha Mangeskar, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Suresh Wadkar, Md. Aziz, Kishore Kumar, Amit Kumar, and more from Mumbai. In addition, singers like Vani Jayaram, S. Janaki, P. Susheela, K. S. Chithra, Swaranalatha, Yesudas, S. P. Balsubramanyam, Manu, and others from Chennai, as well as Arati Mukherjee, Nirmala Mishra, Shipra Bose, Ajaya Chakraborty, Haimayanti Shukla, and more from Kolkata, have also worked with him. Furthermore, he has even introduced over twenty talented playback singers from Odisha in his films.

More over six eminent playback singers have been awarded the Best Playback Singers Award by the Govt. of Odisha under his music direction over the years:

~ Pranab Pattanaik, for Sindura Bindu (1976) & Tapasya (1980)
~ Raghunath Panigrahi, for Mukti (1977)
~ Prafulla Kar, for Balidan (1979)
~ Ajaya Chakraborty, for School Master (1985)
~ Vani Jayaram, for the film Debajani (1981)
~ Gita Dash, for Gruhalakshmi (1985)

In recognition of his remarkable contributions to the world of arts, Prafulla Kar was honored with the prestigious Padma Shri in 2015, an esteemed civilian award bestowed by the Government of India.