Sunanda Patnaik

(1934-2020)

Indian singer

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Sunanda Patnaik (born 7 November 1934) is an Indian classical singer of Gwalior gharana from Odisha. Popularly known as "guruma", she is considered one of the great dames of Hindustani music. She is the daughter of legendary Oriya poet Baikunthanath Patnaik. She started singing at All India Radio in Cuttack in 1948 at the age of 14. The then Odisha Governor Asaf Ali once heard her on Radio and was very impressed with her singing and she became a regular fixture at the Raj Bhavan whenever the Governor had guests. Once, President Rajendra Prasad heard her at Puri. He was very impressed with her singing and arranged her training under Pandit Vinayak Rao Pattavardhan at Pune with a scholarship. She was awarded with the degree of Masters in Music by Pune School in 1956. She performed at All India Sadrang Sageet Sammelan in Calcutta in September 1957 where she received 13 gold coins. Since then she has done many concerts in India and is known internationally. She is best known for her tarana that she sings at a high pace and is considered one of the best contemporary interpreters of Odissi music. She has been staying at Kolkata since 1983.