Bhubaneswar: He was much attached to his friends. The Khatti where he had spend millions of hour during the struggling period was very close to his heart.
Just few hours before death took away him, Minaketan Das, better know to his Khatti friends as Mina, the accomplished actor of Odia cinemas, theatre, Jatra and television serials, visited his Khatti in Unit 3 area of the city.
He was breathing his last in the hospital bed of a Bhubaneswar hospital. Docots had stopped treatment. Family members were waiting for the last breath. The versatile actor of performing art surprised every body by wishing to go round the places where he had spend most part of his life. He wanted to see his Khatti places and meet his Khatti friends.
His passion moved the doctors who allowed him for the outing. Family members took him to his Khatti in the vending zone near the State Housing Board building. They also took him to have a glimpse Rabindra Mandap where Minaketan had performed thousands of nights and enthralled millions of audiences.
Minaketan Das passed away late last night at his apartment in Balianta area of Bhubaneswar. The 56 year old actor was suffering from pancreatic cancer and undergoing treatment at Asian Cancer Institute in Mumbai. Felling ill while performing for Sachidananda Jatra troupe at Laxmisagar in the city, he was first admitted to a local hospital. He was then shifted to Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai, by his brother-in-law, who was a well know scientist. There it was detected that he was suffring from pancreatic cancer. Minaketan returned to Bhubaneswar for cancer treatment.
Minaketan had started his filmy career with Gangasiuli in a negative role. His character role in Balunga Toka (2011), in fact, was highly appreciated by cinegoers. Jianta Bhoota(2008), Most Wanter (2011) are some other noted film of his career. Minaketan had earned accolades not only in Ollywood but also in Jollywood– Odisha’s Jatra (theatre) industry, and also television serials.
