Sikandar Alam
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Sikandar Alam | |
|---|---|
| Salabega of Modern Odisha | |
 | |
| Born | 27 July 1939 |
| Died | 8 August 2010 (aged 71) Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India |
| Alma mater | Christ Collegiate School, Gandharva Mahavidyalaya |
| Occupations | Playback singer, lyricist, composer, songwriter, writer |
| Spouse | Naima Alam |
| Children | 2 daughters |
Sikandar Alam | |
|---|---|
| Labels | SKS Music Company, USMP, EMI, Saregama |
Md. Sikandar Alam (Odia: ସିକନ୍ଦର ଆଲାମ; 27 July 1939 – 8 August 2010) was a playback singer in Odisha film industry (known as Ollywood). He is sometimes called the Salabega of modern Odisha.
In an interview with Monalisa Jena, he said, "I can't appreciate the changing trends where music has become an instrument of titillation with vulgar lyrics. True music soothes the frayed nerves and makes one forget one's mundane life".
Alam was born on 27 July 1939 in Routrapur, Baialishi Mouzaa of Cuttack district. The family moved to Cuttack, where he completed his Matriculation at Christ Collegiate School and his Intermediate in Science at Stewart College. Sikandar then attended the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya to study vocal Hindustani classical music. He later studied Odissi music from Pt Balakrushna Dash.[1]
Professional career
His first work in the entertainment industry was with All India Radio in 1957. His debut in films was in the movie Laxmi (1964), directed by Balakrushna Dash. He sang in 50 Odia films, including Amada Bata, Adina Megha, Manika Jodi, Mamata, Suryamukhi and Puja, and recorded over 2,000 songs, earning the sobriquet "the Salabega of modern Odisha".[2][3] He created a music album called Ala ke Huzur with his wife and daughter.[3][4]
He had performed both in India and internationally. He is credited as the first Odia singer to be heard on BBC London.[3][4]
On 8 August 2010, he died in a city nursing home in Bhubaneswar at the age of 71. He was admitted to the hospital due to prolonged illness.[2][1][3][4]
