Sarat Pujari Biography: Sarat Pujari (8 August 1934 – 12 May 2014) was an Odia film industry (Ollywood) actor, director, and producer. His birthplace was Jhadupada, Sambalpur.
Early Life
Sarat Pujari was born on 8 August 1934 in Khandapada, Nayagarh district, Odisha. His early education was attained in numerous institutions throughout Odisha. 1956 marked the completion of his postgraduate studies in Economics and Paintings at Allahabad University.
Career
After concluding his education, he began working as a block designer and public relations agent. In 1959, he began teaching economics at Panchayat College in Bargarh, a position he left in 1966. Then he became the Works Manager at the Tapang Light Foundry in Nayagarh. He served as the principal of Larambha College, Larambha, for so many years.
Film career
In the 1960s, he began his career as an actor. He departed the military in September 1966 and became a freelance film actor from September 1966 to September 1968 in order to study filmmaking techniques. After that, he became the principal of Larambha College in Bargarh at the age of 34. Odisha’s State Government appointed Pujari to the Orissa Sangeeta Natak Academy and the Board of Directors of the Film Development Corporation of Odisha, Cuttack. He retired as the principal of Bhubaneswar’s Sangeet Nataka College.
As a pupil, Pujari developed a keen interest in drama and other performing arts. At that time, the Oriya film industry was not as developed as it is today; only one film was produced annually. He was offered a role in the film Laxmi Puja at that time. At one time, Pujari dominated the Oriya film industry. He has appeared in approximately 40 films and several television series. He has also directed a handful of Oriya films, such as Tapoi and Ashanta Graha.
The Jayadev Award of 1985 was bestowed upon him by the Government of Odisha for his significant contributions to the Oriya film industry. In addition, he received the inaugural Hemant Das Kala Samman Award, the Kadambini Samman Award in 2010 and the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award in 2007.
Personal life and death
On May 12, 2014, at approximately 12:30 AM, he suffered a cardiac arrest and perished at his home in Bhubaneshwar.[4] His spouse, two daughters, and two sons survive him. Son Soumen Pujari is an actor as well.