Odisha’s Melodious Voice Falls Silent: Geeta Pattnaik Dies at 73
Cuttack, Feb 15: Odisha mourns the loss of one of its most cherished voices as veteran playback singer Geeta Pattnaik passed away at the age of 73.
She breathed her last at a private hospital in Cuttack following a severe brain haemorrhage.
Pattnaik fell ill during a literary festival in Bhubaneswar on February 12 and was admitted to the ICU, where she remained unconscious until her demise.
Her husband, Kishore Gopal Batra, family members, and close relatives were present at her bedside.
A top‑grade artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan, Pattnaik trained under legendary gurus including Balkrushna Das and Rakhala Chandra Mohanty.
She lent her voice to nearly 15 Odia films and was honoured with the State Government’s Best Playback Singer award.
Her timeless renditions, including the evergreen “Fura Kina Udigala Bani”, continue to resonate with audiences across generations.
Tributes have poured in from cultural icons and fans alike, marking her passing as a profound loss to Odisha’s music fraternity.
