Maguni Charan Kuanr, a celebrated puppeteer from Odisha’s Keonjhar, has passed away in his 80s. President Droupadi Murmu expressed her heartfelt condolences to Kuanr’s bereaved family.
Sad to learn about the demise of Shri Maguni Charan Kuanr, an eminent puppeteer from Keonjhar, Odisha. He was awarded the Padma Shri for promotion of the traditional puppet dance form. He leaves behind an inspiring legacy. Condolences to his family, friends and admirers. pic.twitter.com/UCX3l2nRsk
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 1, 2024
“Sad to learn about the demise of Shri Maguni Charan Kuanr, an eminent puppeteer from Keonjhar, Odisha. He was awarded the Padma Shri for the promotion of the traditional puppet dance form. He leaves behind an inspiring legacy. Condolences to his family, friends, and admirers,” read a post on the official X account of the President of India.
Over the past seven decades, Kuanr crafted his own puppets, designed their costumes, and narrated the plays, constantly experimenting with different sizes of puppets. In 2023, he was honored with the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian awards, for his lifelong dedication to the art of rod puppetry. Kuanr was also a recipient of the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Samman from Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi, and the Kendriya Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.