Nirmala Misra

Nirmala Mishra (21 October 1938 – 31 July 2022) was a renowned Indian playback singer known mainly for her contributions to Bengali and Odia music. She was born in Majilpur in West Bengal, India, in a musical family. Her father, Pandit Mohinimohan Mishra, was a classical singer, and this early musical environment inspired her to develop an interest in singing from childhood.

Nirmala Mishra received training in classical music and gradually developed a strong and melodious singing style. Her talent helped her become popular on radio programs, especially on All India Radio, where many listeners first heard her voice. Her training in classical music influenced her singing and gave depth and emotion to her performances.

She began her professional career in the 1960s when music director Balakrushna Das gave her the opportunity to sing in the Odia film Shri Lokanath. After this, she became widely recognized and started singing for many Bengali and Odia films. Over the years, she recorded hundreds of songs and became one of the most respected singers in regional Indian music.

Throughout her career, Nirmala Mishra sang many popular songs in Bengali, Odia, and also Assamese languages. Her soft and expressive voice made her songs very memorable among audiences. Because of her significant contribution to music, she received several honors and awards from cultural organizations and state governments.

Nirmala Mishra passed away on 31 July 2022 in Kolkata at the age of 83 after suffering a heart attack. Even after her death, she is remembered as an important figure in Indian regional music, and her songs continue to be loved by music lovers.