Draft:Sankar Prasad Tripathy



Sankar Prasad Tripathy (born 19 February 1961) is an Indian author, playwright, and screenwriter whose work spans Odia literature, theatre, film, and television. A recipient of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award, he has devoted over two decades to the creative arts, crafting narratives that have found expression on stage, screen, and page. From acclaimed literary works and widely performed plays to nationally recognized films such as Pushkara[1]—adapted from his novel Nadabindu—Sankar Prasad Tripathy's career reflects a sustained engagement with storytelling across forms, establishing him as a notable voice in the Odia cultural landscape.

Early Life and Education

Sankar Prasad Tripathy was born on 19 February 1961 in Sriramchandrapur, Sakhigopal, Puri district, Odisha, India.

He is the son of Late Dinabandhu Tripathy and Late Sarada Tripathy. From an early age, he was actively involved in village-level and Puri-based drama circuits, which played a significant role in shaping his interest in theatre and storytelling.

Sankar Prasad Tripathy pursued his education in Odisha and completed a Master of Arts in Odia from SCS College.

Career Film and Television

Sankar Prasad Tripathy has worked in the Odia film and television industry for over 20 years. He is the writer of the Odia feature film Pushkara, which was adapted from his novel Nadabindu and received the National Film Award recognition in 2025.

His other film writing credits include:

Chabirani[2] Sagar Ganga Tumaku Paruni ta Bhuli Satru Samhara[3]

He also worked as an assistant director on the National Award-winning film Klanta Aparahna (1985).

In television, Sankar Prasad Tripathy has contributed as a scriptwriter for programs such as Nabakalebar, Kemiti-e-Bandhan, Ama Ghara Lakhmi, Sri Mandira, MahaLakhmi, and Salabega. He also wrote and directed 26 episodes of Asali Nakali for ETV Oriya.

Professional Roles

Sankar Prasad Tripathy has held several roles in television production and programming:

Senior Program Executive, ETV Oriya (2001–2007) Senior Producer, Odisha Television (2007–2012) Creative Head, Sarthak Television (2012–2014)

He has also served as:

Working President, Odisha Film and Television Writers Association Member, Screen Writers Association Theatre and Literary Work

Sankar Prasad Tripathy has made significant contributions to Odia theatre and literature. He has published 27 plays, numerous one-act plays, and several novels.

His notable plays include Ahe Nila Saila,[4] Gandhinka Odisha, and Suniba Heu A Kahani. His novels include Nadabindu, Dikhya, Sri Purusottama, and Internet Ra Jhia.

His works have also been translated into Hindi and English, including Char Dishayein, Behind the Shadows, Spear of Hope, and Purushottam.

Documentaries and Broadcast Work

Sankar Prasad Tripathy has directed several telefilms and documentaries for Doordarshan, Bhubaneswar, including:

Adina-Jhada for Grid Corporation of Orissa, Prabhupada Mohan Sundar Dev Goswami, Kritadas, Demerits of Hooking, Asha, Avinetri.

His plays have also been broadcast on Doordarshan and All India Radio.

Awards and Honours

Sankar Prasad Tripathy has received several awards and recognitions, including:

Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award (1994) for Suniba Heu A Kahani[5] Odisha Sangeet Natak Academy Award (2015) International Theatre Samman (2010) Utkal Sahitya Samaj Samman Honorary Doctorate, Indian Virtual University of Peace and Education Multiple Best Director and Best Writer awards at Lok Natak Mahotsav (1984–1990) Felicitations from organizations including Fakirmohan Sahitya Parishad and Natyam Legacy and Impact

Sankar Prasad Tripathy's works have had a notable impact on Odia theatre and literature. His play Gandhinka Odisha was staged by 30 theatre groups across 30 districts on the same day, each with different directors.

His play Ahe Nila Saila has been performed extensively, including productions outside Odisha.

His literary works have been the subject of doctoral research, and he has participated multiple times as a writer in Bharat Ranga Mahotsava, organized by the National School of Drama.

He has also contributed to the development of theatre through workshops and seminars, including conducting training programs for young writers and presenting papers on drama and cultural themes.

Personal Life

Sankar Prasad Tripathy is married to Dr. (Prof.) Pratima Kumari Hota. The couple have two children, a daughter and a son.

References

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  1. Sahu, Diana (2025-08-02). "'Pushkara' bags National Award, Odias win big". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2026-06-09.
  2. Network, Post News (2019-11-26). "Chhabirani premieres in Boston,receives overwhelming response - OrissaPOST". Odisha News, Odisha Latest news, Odisha Daily - OrissaPOST. Retrieved 2026-06-09.
  3. www.imdb.com https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1431316/. Retrieved 2026-06-09. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. "AHE NILASHAILA Theatre, Plays Events Tickets". BookMyShow. Retrieved 2026-06-09.
  5. "List of recipients of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award", Wikipedia, 2026-04-24, retrieved 2026-06-09