From a very young age, Khoka Bhai was initiated into the world of art. He started to act for All India Radio as a child artist in the year 1948 at a tender age of eleven. In the year 1955 he was declared as a light vocal artist and from 1956 he was recognized as “B-High” Artist. His first song at AIR, Cuttack “Madhu Sanjare Bhramara Gunjana De” was composed by Radha Krushna Bhanja and the lyricist was Kabichanra Kalicharan Pattanaik. From 1959 he was accepted as lyricist and in 1971 as Music Composer by AIR. From 1988 to till his death he was a member of Central Audition Board and Vocal Audition Board of AIR. Achieving ‘O’ (Outstanding) level to his credit in all the three departments of music, as singer, lyricist and composer; Khoka Bhai has dominated the oDiA-music world closely for half a century. He was also dignified as second to non for composing Chorus in all over India.

Khoka Bhai started his film career as a play back singer with the song “Gori Gori”in the movie “Maa” (1957), where the song “Nia nia nia bhai akhira anjan” is still an old favorite among listeners. In the same year he has also started writing lyrics for the films. The film “Malajanha” (1965) directed by prominent Oriya filmmaker, Mr. Nitai Palit is his music directorial debut. A song from the movie “Rakata Talamala” went on to top the charts.

Till his death he has directed music in 75 films and one in Bengali, written lyrics for 92 films and was a playback singer of 129 films

. But the journey never ended here; he was also the associate director of two oDiA films named “Jaajaabar” and “Nagaphasa” and the producer of one film named “Mallajanha”.

Akshaya was one of those very few singers who took risks and experimented with different styles of music. Not only he kept on experimenting with light music, in themes and words, in recording and giving special sound effects, but also, some of his experimentations include starting a new cult of ballads in oDiA, based on popular legends, such as Kanchi Abhijana, Randipua Ananta, and Konaraka Gatha.

He also recorded a popular drama, Patent Medicine, which went on to win the best radio drama award from All India Radio.

From the religious “Kene Gheni Jauchha” to the patriotic ‘Saata Daria Paare’; from the sad ‘He Phaguna Tume’ to the teasing ‘Raja Jhia Sange’; from the lamenting ‘Rakata Tala Mala’ to the pensive ‘Chakori Jhara’anaa Luha’; Akshaya has been the most significant contributor of ‘classics’ to the oDiA popular repertoire.