Devdas Chhotray Biography 
Devdas Chhotray is a well-known writer belonging to Odia literature of present times. He is also popular as an administrator and academician. He is the son of doyen Odia playwright, Gopal Chhotray regarded as the architect of modern Odia theatre. Devdas served as the first vice-chancellor of Ravenshaw University, Cuttack. Devdas has published numerous anthologies of poems and stories in Oriya language, and has earned a fame of his own in the literal field. Devdas has also wrote screenplays, penned lyrics for more than 75 Odia films and TV shows, and is best known for his association with Akshaya Mohanty, delivering many chartbuster film songs.
Devdas Chhotray was born on 25 November 1946 in Cuttack, Odisha into a literal family. His father was a well-established Odia writer, Padma Shri Gopal Chhotray, known as a playwright who drew a new path for Odia theater, followed till now. Devdas too followed his father’s legacy, and chose writing as his profession. He excelled in film field also as a lyricist and screenwriter.
He also earned success as an academician and administrator in the field of education and a few more. He served as the director of the Orissa Film Development Corporation for two terms - from 1983–89 and 1996–98. Chairman of the publications committee for International Children’s Film Festival 1987 and Vice-president of the governing council of the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune for 1999–2001 are other major administrative posts held by Devdas.
As a writer, he has contributed in the form of poems and short stories, apart from penning lyrics for many Odia films. He collaborated with music composer Akshaya Mohanty as a lyricist, and tasted success in this field. He is also a screenwriter of Odia films, with Indradhanura Chhai being his acclaimed work. Nila Saraswati and Hati Saja Kara are his major published works.
Published: July 18, 2018
Updated: July 18, 2018
