Bhubaneswar: Veteran cine actor Sadhu Meher passed away at his Mumbai residence on Friday. He was 84.
Meher who was born at Manamunda in Subarnapur district has acted in both Odia and Hindi films.
He has acted in Hindi and Odia films like Bhuvan Shome, Ankur, Manthan, Mrigaya, Bhukha, Seeta Raati, Debshishu, Safed Haathi, Nishant and Desire.
Meher was awarded the National Film Award for Best Actor in 1974 for his role as Kistaya in the Hindi film ‘Ankur’. He became the first Odia star to win a National Award.
He was conferred with Padma Shri in 2017 for his contribution to Indian cinema.
Meher wrote and directed his first film Abhimaan in 1977 which became one of the most important films in the Odia language.
He directed the first children’s sci-fi Odia movie Babula (1985). He was an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).
