Cuttack: Veteran singer Geeta Patnaik, a beloved figure in Odisha’s music scene, breathed her last on Sunday. She was 73.
The veteran singer developed uneasiness while attending a literary meeting in Bhubaneswar on Thursday night and was rushed to Capital Hospital around 1 am. She was shifted to a private hospital in Cuttack around 3 am, where she was undergoing treatment at the ICU. “Her blood pressure shot up and caused several clots in the brain,” her husband, Gopal Batra, had earlier told the media.
Patnaik was a prominent voice in Odia music in the 1970s, renown
ed for her soulful playback singing and collaborations, particularly with legendary singer Akshaya Mohanty. She had lent her voice to many superhit old Odia songs such as ‘Phur Kina Udigala Bani’, ‘Danei Das Kahere Bhai’, ‘E Duniya Re Kehi Na Kehi’ and ‘To Bainshi’, among others, and remained active in the industry for around three decades.
Expressing grief over her death, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said she had created a unique identity in Odia music and made invaluable contributions to Odisha’s art and culture. “Her voice will continue to inspire future generations,” he wrote on X, while extending condolences to her bereaved family.
Odisha Congress president Bhakta Das also mourned her death. “Deeply saddened by the passing of veteran singer Geeta Patnaik. Her soulful voice and invaluable contribution to Odia music will always be remembered. I pray to Lord Jagannath to grant eternal peace to her soul and strength to her family,” he said in a post on X.