Cuttack: Eminent Odia film music director Jalal Adeni passed away after suffering cardiac arrest at his residence in Cuttack, family members informed on Monday. He was 85.
The engineer-tuned-music director has worked in films like- ‘Anutap’ and ‘Hira Moti Manika’.
Born on June 23, 1936, in Ganjam’s Bhanjanagar, Jalal did his schooling from Government Queen Mission High Secondary School in Berhampur and intermediate from erstwhile Khallikote College. His father wanted him to study engineering and he took admission in Jadavpur Engineering College.
He had a keen interest in music and theatre but had never thought of taking them up as a profession. He used to visit the sets of Tapan Sinha, Mrinal Sen and Satyajit Ray and that whetted his appetite to explore the field.
Jalal then left his job with the railways and returned home. He then did theatres in Berhampur. In 1974, he came to Cuttack and directed and composed music for ‘Anutap’ in which he also acted. ‘Nida Bhara Raati’ and ‘Mun Tumaku Bhala Pae Luchi Luchi Kaa’ of this movie continue to pluck the heartstrings to date. It was released in 1977.
Despite the success, he had no work for four years before getting the offer for ‘Hira Moti Manika’. (1981), which turned out to be a hit again.
He introduced lyricist Mohammad Nizam and Odia composer and singer Tansen Singh in the Odia film industry.
Jalal then ventured into Bollywood and directed ‘Jamana Kya Kahega’ in 1982. However, he did not get his dues and had to be satisfied playing the ‘ghost director’. After ‘Humne Pyaar Kiye’ (1992) and ‘Prem Uphaar’ (1994), he returned to Odisha.
In the later part of his life, he worked with his two children and composed music CDs with them. He also worked with street children in a school run for them.
