Bhubaneswar, August 21, 2026:Veteran Odia playback singer Pranab Patnaik, one of the most celebrated voices of Odisha, passed away at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on Friday. He was 88.

Born on January 20, 1938, Patnaik began his playback singing career with the Odia film Maa in 1958. In a career spanning more than six decades, he lent his voice to over 200 Odia films and became known for his versatility across Odissi, folk, devotional, semi-classical and other musical genres.

A seven-time recipient of the Odisha State Film Award for Best Playback Singer, Patnaik was also honoured with several prestigious recognitions, including the **Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Jayadev Puraskar and Balakrishna Dash Memorial Award.

With memorable songs from films such as Sindura Bindu, Sesa Srabana, Shree Lokanath and Batighara, Pranab Patnaik leaves behind a rich musical legacy that will continue to resonate with generations of Odia music lovers.