Eminent Odia playback singer Pranab Patnaik passed away on Friday at the age of 88, breathing his last at his residence in Bhubaneswar.
Born on January 20, 1938, Patnaik was inspired by his father, Lal Mohan Patnaik, former Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly. He began his formal training under Guru Kunal Adinarayan and made his playback debut in 1958 with the film Maa. Over the next six decades, he lent his voice to over 200 Odia films, working with nearly every major music director in the state.
Patnaik remains the only Odia playback singer to win the State Film Award for Best Playback Singer seven times, with memorable performances in films like Sindura Bindu, Astaraaga, Jhiati Sita Pari, Kanyadana, Pratishodha Aparadha Nuhen, and Asha. His recognitions include the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1997-98), Jayadev Puraskar (2016), and the Balakrishna Dash Memorial Award (2023), among many others.
His versatility spanned Odissi, folk, devotional, semi-classical, Hindi songs, and ghazals, making him a household name. He shared the stage with legends like Hemlata, Vani Jayaram, S. Janaki, P. Susheela, Nirmala Mishra, Bhupinder Singh, Usha Mangeshkar, and Haimanti Sukla.
Films such as Shree Lokanath, Suryamukhi, Sindura Bindu, Sesa Srabana, Chinha Achinha, and Batighara cemented his popularity and showcased his wide vocal range and unique style.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Shri Pranab Patnaik, calling it an irreparable loss to Odisha’s cultural and musical heritage.
In his message on X, the Chief Minister said Patnaik, with his “timeless voice,” had mesmerised generations of Odias and enriched the state’s art and culture. He recalled the singer’s illustrious career, decorated with honours such as the Jayadev Puraskar, Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and multiple State Film Awards, noting that his melodious renditions will remain immortal in the hearts of Odias. Conveying his condolences to the bereaved family and countless admirers, Majhi prayed to Lord Jagannath for the eternal peace of the departed soul, ending his tribute with “Om Shanti.”
ନିଜର କାଳଜୟୀ କଣ୍ଠସ୍ୱରରେ ସମଗ୍ର ଓଡ଼ିଶାକୁ ବିମୋହିତ କରିଥିବା ମହାନ କଣ୍ଠଶିଳ୍ପୀ ପ୍ରଣବ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକଙ୍କ ପରଲୋକ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ଜୟଦେବ ପୁରସ୍କାର, ଓଡ଼ିଶା ସଙ୍ଗୀତ ନାଟକ ଏକାଡେମୀ ପୁରସ୍କାର ଏବଂ ରାଜ୍ୟ ଚଳଚ୍ଚିତ୍ର ପୁରସ୍କାର ଭଳି ଅନେକ ସମ୍ମାନରେ ଭୂଷିତ ଏହି ଅତୁଳନୀୟ ସଙ୍ଗୀତ ସାଧକଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ଓଡ଼ିଆ କଳା ଓ… pic.twitter.com/OgyEIlIDEZ
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) August 21, 2026
Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the demise of Shri Pranab Patnaik, describing him as an unforgettable voice of Odisha’s music world.
In his condolence message on X, Naveen Patnaik said the singer’s melodious style had immortalised countless Odia songs in the hearts of people and enriched the state’s cultural heritage. He noted that Pranab Patnaik’s contribution to music would remain cherished forever. Extending his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and admirers, the Leader of Opposition prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.
ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସଙ୍ଗୀତ ଜଗତର ଅଭୁଲା ସ୍ୱର, ବର୍ଷିୟାନ କଣ୍ଠଶିଳ୍ପୀ ପ୍ରଣବ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ତାଙ୍କ ସୁମଧୁର ଗାୟନ ଶୈଳୀ ଅନେକ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସଙ୍ଗୀତକୁ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ହୃଦୟରେ କାଳଜୟୀ କରିଛି। ସଙ୍ଗୀତ ଜଗତକୁ ସମୃଦ୍ଧ କରିବାରେ ତାଙ୍କ ଅବଦାନ ଚିର ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ହୋଇ ରହିବ। ଏପରି ଦୁଃଖଦ ସମୟରେ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାର ସଦସ୍ୟଙ୍କ…
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) August 21, 2026
