Bhubaneswar, Jan 14: Veteran Odia music director and lyricist Saroj Patnaik passed away in Baripada late on Thursday night. He was 82.

He was suffering from prolonged illness.

An engineer by profession, he had started his career in Odia film industry as the music director in the movie ‘Abhiman’ in 1977.

He gave the music for a string of Odia hit films including Phula Chandana, Abhilasha, Jhiati Sita Pari, Hakim Babu and Mo Mana Khali Tumari Pain.