Sambalpuri folk music owes to this wonderful musician who elevated it to a great height through his composition, the all-time hit "Rangabati" song. This evergreen song was written by Sri Mitrabhanu Gountia, sung by Padmashree Dr.Jitendriya Haripal and Dr.Krishna Patel with beautiful composition of traditional folk instruments enthralls one and all. This numero uno Sambalpuri folk music composer was Shri Prabhudutta Pradhan, a 'dhol' (drum) player of Akashvani Sambalpur who passed away in the wee hour of 28th May, 2018. His mundane body was cremated today morning in the graveyard below the foothill of Budharaja hill, Sambalpur amidst a large gathering. Born in the year 1943 in the month of November, Prabhudutta Pradhan was the 5th child of Late Pravash Chandra Pradhan & Late Bibasini Pradhan. He was born in Sambalpur town. From his very childhood, he was having keen interest in music and he learnt it from his father. His regular guru was Padmashree Late Jadunath Supakar. He started his career as an instrumentalist in All India Radio, Sambalpur in the year 1969. He was a B High grade artist of Dhol, B grade artist of Mandal, Tabla & Mridinga.Mr. Pradhan had dedicated his life for the folk culture and folk music of this area. He had traveled hundreds of villages in the western part of Odisha to collected the tunes, rhythms and styles of folk and tribal music. In All India Radio, he composed most of the Sambalpuri popular music and could make Sambalpuri songs popular all over India and abroad. The brightest example is the song "Rangabati" which has got the international acclaim. He is a doyen in the field of composition of Sambalpuri songs and their arrangement. He was a wizard in making fusions of different folk tunes and tribal tunes to catch the heart of the people.Most of the Sambalpuri music of All India Radio were composed and arranged by Sri Pradhan. The serial "Lokdhara" is a bright example of the documentation of folk music of this area where Sri Pradhan had worked as a guide and as a music arranger. He had also contributed many folk operas in Sambalpuri dialect. Besides Sambalpuri folk music he was also renowned for the composition of Oriya music.His composed songs were recorded in INRECO, Gathani. HMV etc. for commercial release. Scholars doing research in Sambalpuri songs and folk music visited Sri Pradhan for guidance.Sri Pradhan had received Akashvani Annual Awards in 1994,1995,1996,1998,1999,2001 & 2002 for scoring music in Sambalpuri.After retirement he was devoting time in making new artists, new compositions as well as research on folk and tribal music.AIR, Sambalpur paid tribute to this pious soul through a condolence meeting held in the office at 11 AM yesterday. Prasar Bharati Parivar condoles the demise of Prabhudutta Pradhan and prays to the almighty for the peace of departed soul.