PURI, May 10: Doyen of Oriya theatre and films, Byomkesh Tripathy, passed away at his Red Cross road residence here yesterday following a massive heart attack.

Tripathy (68) is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters. The eminent playwright, director and producer, for whom the stage was a laboratory, had authored 28 plays and either acted in or directed 71 dramas. He also acted in 25 films. He was busy making a documentary on the fifty years of Oriya theatre for Doordarshan when the end came.

Carving a distinct niche for himself in the world of theatre, Tripathi attracted attention with his play Ek dui tin in 1959. Other plays which sparked debates in cultural circles included Kansa kabat, Simhadwar, Tola kania and Suna farua.

Eminent citizens including those from the world of showbiz rushed to his residence last night for a last glimpse of the man who had become a living legend.

Tripathy first acted in a film Saptasajya in 1949 and was presented the best director's award for Mamata in 1975 and Machaghara in 1981.

Born on January 19, 1929 the eldest son of late Sati Devi and late Gobinda Tripathy, a celebrated Oriya litterateur of the early twentieth century, Byomkesh made his first appearance on stage when he was only ten.

He studied at the Ravenshaw College at Cuttack and got a bachelor's degree in science from the Calcutta University. Trained at the Asian Theatre Institute at Delhi, he joined the famous theatre group Annapurna in Cuttack, devoting his entire time to the development of theatre. ``I have a long straight nose, I would like to follow the long straight path,'' he used to say.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.