The golden voice in Odisha that once floated through homes, radios, and film songs has gone still. Veteran Odia singer Geeta Patnaik is no more, and fans are still trying to believe it.
Geeta Patnaik: Cause of death
Geeta Patnaik, aged 73, passed away on Sunday according to her family. The shock began earlier in the week. She reportedly fell ill during an event on Thursday in Cuttack.
What looked like a sudden health issue soon turned serious. She was first rushed to Capital Hospital in Cuttack.
Doctors ran tests and confirmed she had suffered a brain stroke.
Also Read: Sunil Thapa dies at 68 in Kathmandu: Ratey Kaila fame and ‘Mary Kom’ coach role defined his cross-border career
As her condition worsened, she was shifted to private hospital in the city for advanced treatment. Despite efforts, doctors later declared her brain dead on Sunday. The news spread quickly.
Her brother-in-law, Pradosh Patnaik, shared the heartbreaking update with news agency PTI. He confirmed that she had been under treatment since the stroke and that doctors finally pronounced her brain dead during treatment.
Political leaders react with grief
Condolences poured in from top political leaders of Odisha and beyond. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi called her passing an “irreplaceable loss” to Odisha’s music and culture. He also prayed for peace for her soul and strength for her family.
ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ କଣ୍ଠଶିଳ୍ପୀ ଗୀତା ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ତାଙ୍କର ବିୟୋଗ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ସଙ୍ଗୀତ ଓ ସଂସ୍କୃତି ପାଇଁ ଏକ ଅପୂରଣୀୟ କ୍ଷତି। ଏହି ଦୁଃଖଦ ସମୟରେ ମୁଁ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ଗଭୀର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ ଦିବଙ୍ଗତ ଆତ୍ମାଙ୍କ ସଦଗତି ପାଇଁ ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କରୁଛି।… pic.twitter.com/O8TVd32e2v
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) February 15, 2026
Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said her melodious voice had reached every household in Odisha. He noted that her popular songs would keep her memory alive forever.
ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ କଣ୍ଠଶିଳ୍ପୀ ଗୀତା ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ତାଙ୍କ ସୁମଧୁର କଣ୍ଠ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସଙ୍ଗୀତକୁ ଘରେ ଘରେ ପହଞ୍ଚାଇଛି। ଅନେକ ଲୋକପ୍ରିୟ ସଙ୍ଗୀତ ତାଙ୍କୁ ସର୍ବଦା ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ କରି ରଖିବ। ତାଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗ ଓ ଆତ୍ମୀୟସ୍ଵଜନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ମୋର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି।
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) February 15, 2026
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also described her demise as an irreparable loss to Odisha’s art and cultural heritage.
ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ କଣ୍ଠଶିଳ୍ପୀ ଗୀତା ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଓ ମର୍ମାହତ । ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସଙ୍ଗୀତ ଜଗତରେ ସେ ଏକ ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର ପରିଚୟ ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରିଥିଲେ । ଓଡ଼ିଶାର କଳା ସଂସ୍କୃତିକୁ ସମୃଦ୍ଧ କରିବାରେ ତାଙ୍କର ଅବଦାନ ଅତୁଳନୀୟ । ତାଙ୍କ କଣ୍ଠର ଯାଦୁ ଆଗାମୀ ପିଢ଼ି ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରେରଣା ହୋଇ ରହିବ । ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା…
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) February 15, 2026
Geeta Patnaik songs
Geeta Patnaik was not just a singer; she was a musical memory for generations. Her career spanned more than five decades. She worked closely with legendary Odia music icon Akshaya Mohanty creating songs that became timeless classics.
One of her most loved tracks was ‘Phur Kina Udigala Bani’ from the film Jajabar. Even today, the song is remembered for its emotion and melody.
Over the years, she recorded numerous popular Odia songs that found a permanent place in listeners’ hearts.
Her final rites will be held on Monday. Before that, her mortal remains will be taken to her residence in Cuttack so that family, friends, and admirers can pay their last respects.