Bhubaneswar, August 21: Veteran Odia playback singer Pranab Kishore Patnaik passed away on Friday morning at the age of 88 while undergoing treatment. He had been suffering from prolonged illness.

A celebrated name in Odisha's music fraternity, Patnaik was known for his distinctive voice and his contribution to Odia music both within the state and beyond. He lent his voice to more than 200 songs during his illustrious career.

Born on January 20, 1938, Patnaik began his singing career with the Odia film ‘Maa’ in 1958. Over the decades, he established a special place among music lovers through his renditions of Odissi music, devotional songs and traditional folk music.

His unique vocal style and expressive singing won him a wide following and made him one of the recognised voices of Odia music.

In recognition of his contribution to the field, Patnaik was conferred the prestigious ‘Jayadev Samman’ in 2016.

His death marks the loss of a distinguished figure from Odisha's musical heritage. Tributes and condolences have been pouring in from various quarters following the news of his demise.

With his passing, Odisha has lost a remarkable voice whose musical legacy will continue to live on among generations of listeners.