Odia Books

Kalicharan Pattanayak was born in 1898,. His ranks high among the modern dramatists of odisha. A noted musician and a master of stage craft, Pattanayak dominated the odia stage for decades and made substantial contribution to it, both by writing plays in odia and by successully staging them. Kalicharan Pattanayak drew profusely on the patriotic themes of ancient odisha’s military valour and maritime activities as well as on the cult of Lord Jagannath. The influence of the theatrical performances of the rural folk popularly known as ‘jatra’ is easily seen in his plays. At a young age he staged Savitri, the success of which encouraged him to stage another dramatic work, Parsuramvijaya.

Ahuti, Pratishodh and Girl’s school are three of his early works. These plays were staged and the female
roles were played by girls he had picked up. All these efforts of his early dramatic career came to fruition
when he founded the odisha Theatre in 1939 in Cuttack.

His Girl’s school was staged by the odisha Theatre in 1942 successfully and stirred the theatre loving people of odisha. One of his most important plays is Bhat with the theme of drought and famine in the life of the villages in odisha. His other famous plays are Chakri (mythological), Atibadi Jagamath Das (biographical), Abhijan (historical), Jayadeva (biographical), Chumban, Raktamati (social), Das-bhuja (puranic), Phata-bhuin (social) and Rakta mandar (historical). His social plays were concerned with both urban and rural middle class life of odisha.

He was instrumental in the expansion of the odia stage. As a trainer and writer of drama, poetry and oneact plays, Kalicharan Pattanayak surpassed his contemporaries in output and dramatic appeal. His plays are remarkable for their enchanting lyrics.

Kalanka Bhanjana (କଳଙ୍କ ଭଞ୍ଜନ)
Daridrya Bhanjana (ଦାରିଦ୍ର୍ୟ ଭଞ୍ଜନ)
Milana Madhuri (ମିଳନ ମାଧୁରୀ)
Shree Radha(ଶ୍ରୀ ରାଧା)
Banshurira Bilapa(ବାଂସୁରୀର ବିଳାପ)
Shree Geeta Gobinda(ଶ୍ରୀ ଗୀତ ଗୋବିନ୍ଦ)
Preeti Sudhakara(ପ୍ରୀତି ସୁଧାକର)
Laxmi(ଲକ୍ଷ୍ମୀ)
Koutuka Chintamani(କୌତୁକ ଚିନ୍ତାମଣୀ)
Kishore Chandrananda Champu(କିଶୋର ଚନ୍ଦ୍ରାନନ୍ଦ ଚମ୍ପୂ)
Manini(ମାନିନୀ)
Akhira Dekha(ଆଖିର ଦେଖା)
Dehi Padapallaba mudaram(ଦେହି ପଦପଲ୍ଲବ ମୁଦାରଂ)
Kumbharachaka

Dhrub(ଧ୍ରୁବ)
Mrigaya(ମୃଗୟା)
Bana Bihara(ବନ ବିହାର)
Bidyabali(ବିଦ୍ୟାବଳୀ)
Shakuntala(ଶକୁନ୍ତଳା)
Harischandta(ହରିଶ୍ଚନ୍ଦ୍ର)
Chakri(ଚକ୍ରୀ)
Dashabhuja(ଦଶଭୂଜା)

Abhijana(ଅଭିଯାନ)
Malati(ମାଳତୀ)
Rakta Mandara(ରକ୍ତ ମନ୍ଦାର)