IPRS to Honour ‘Rangabati’ Lyricist Padmashree Mitrabhanu Gountia

Bhubaneswar — In a landmark move to recognize and empower India’s folk music creators, The Indian Performing Right Society Ltd. (IPRS) is set to honour Padmashree Mitrabhanu Gountia—the legendary lyricist behind the iconic folk song Rangabati—at a special event on July 26, 2025, at Sambalpur Kala Parishad, Odisha.

As part of its nationwide initiative ‘My Music My Rights’, IPRS will host a copyright and royalty awareness workshop aimed at educating regional and folk creators about their legal rights, music royalties, and the importance of protecting intellectual property. The event pays tribute to Gountia’s monumental contribution to Sambalpuri music and his lifelong dedication to writing in his mother tongue.

Mitrabhanu Gountia, a schoolteacher from Bilung village (now renamed Rangabati Bilung in his honour), penned Rangabati—a song that became a cultural anthem, resonating across India and beyond. Released in 1979 by INRECO (The Indian Record Manufacturing Company Ltd.), the song has since seen international acclaim, being played on global platforms such as BBC London and Radio Moscow, and performed live by artists including Shankar Mahadevan.

“Creators like Mitrabhanu Gountia are the soul of our musical heritage. It’s time their rights are acknowledged and safeguarded,” said Rakesh Nigam, CEO of IPRS. “Rangabati is not just a song; it is a symbol of regional pride, and its creators deserve due recognition, respect, and reward.”

The workshop, supported by INRECO, will include sessions on Copyright fundamentals and the role of IPRS, Music licensing and royalty distribution, On-ground membership support for songwriters and composers and Personalized helpdesk for rights-related queries

For decades, folk creators like Gountia have remained on the fringes of the formal music industry despite their works achieving massive popularity. The IPRS initiative seeks to bridge this gap by empowering such creators with knowledge and access to legal and financial systems that protect their intellectual property.

“I’ve always believed in the power of our language and literature,” said Mitrabhanu Gountia. “Our words have worth, and it’s time we claim the rights we’ve long been denied.”

With Rangabati echoing through generations, this honour not only recognizes a musical legend but marks a turning point in how India values and protects its folk creators.