Banamali Maharana (Odia: ବନମାଳୀ ମହାରଣା, romanized: Banamāḷi Mahāraṇā, 16 May 1941 – 17 November 2018) was an Indian percussionist who played Mardala.

Banamali Maharana
Born(1941-05-16)16 May 1941
Died17 November 2018(2018-11-17) (aged 77)
Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
OccupationPercussionist - Odissi Mardala Guru
Notable workBasanta Rasa
StyleOdissi music
AwardsSangeet Natak Akademi Award

Career edit

Maharana began playing Khola (Mrudanga) and Dholak with Goswami.[citation needed]

His formal training began after he joined the Annapurna Theatre, where he learned percussion from Singhari Shyamsundar Kar and Kshetramohan Kar.[1] His brother, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra accompanied him to most of his dance performances.[citation needed]

Maharana started teaching Mardala at Kala Vikas Kendra in Cuttack and then at Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya.[2] He introduced a seven-year course in Mardala music at the Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya before retiring as the Head of the Mardala department in 1999.[citation needed]

Maharana was the most sought-after Mardal player for Odissi performances in his time. Besides Kelucharana, Banamali accompanied Sanjukta Panigrahi, Oopali Operajita, Priyambada Mohanty Hejmadi, Sonal Mansingh, Aruna Mohanty, Sujata Mohapatra, Parwati Dutta and others in dance performances, in India and abroad.[3]

Awards edit

  • Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Sanman - 2016[4]

References edit

  1. ^ "Noted Guru Banamali Maharana passes away". UNI India. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  2. ^ "Eminent percussionist Guru Banamali Maharana passes away". pti news. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  3. ^ "Mardala exponent Banamali Maharana passes away". The New Indian Express. 17 November 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Eminent percussionist Guru Banamali Maharana passes away". Business Standard. Press Trust of India. 17 November 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2020.