The King Of Ghazal Singer Pankaj Udhas was a much-loved Indian singer and songwriter, who won the hearts of many with his soulful and melodious voice. Singer Pankaj Udhas date of birth was 17th May 1951 and left us on 26th February 2024. His music had a special place in Hindi cinema and Indian pop. Pankaj started his singing career with the release of his first ghazal album, Aahat, in 1980. Additionally, he recorded many successful albums such as Mukarar (1981), Tarrannum (1982), Mehfil (1983), Pankaj Udhas Live at Royal Albert Hall (1984), Nayaab (1985), and Aafreen (1986), which are still loved by many.
Mahesh Bhatt invited him to sing for the movie Naam in 1986 after his success as a ghazal singer, bringing him fame overnight. His song “Chitthi Aayee Hai” became an instant hit and remains a favorite of many.
Did you know that Pankaj Udhas, the famous Ghazal singer, was born in Charakhadi village of Jetpur in Gujarat? He was the youngest of three brothers, and his parents were Keshubhai Udhas and Jituben Udhas. Pankaj Udhas studied at Sir BPTI Bhavanagar and later moved to Mumbai. Additionally, he continued his education in Mumbai and completed his degree in music. After that, he began his career as a ghazal singer. Later on, he gained popularity and became one of the most well-known ghazal singers in India. He attended St. Xavier’s College there.
Pankaj Udhas enrolled himself to learn the tabla but later began learning Hindustani vocal classical music from Ghulam Qadir Khan Sahab. Read more on his Biography
Personal Life; Ghazal Singer Pankaj Udhas
Pankaj married Farida in the year 1982, and they have two lovely daughters, Nayab and Reva.Interestingly, Pankaj has shared with his fans how his love story with Farida was a bit of a struggle. However, he has always been grateful for Farida’s support during tough times. Specifically, he appreciates her support both emotionally and financially. He even admires her for being an independent thinker.
It’s fascinating to know that Pankaj’s father, Keshubhai Udhas, was a government servant who learned to play the dilruba from the renowned veena player, Abdul Karim Khan. When Pankaj Udhas was a child, his father would play the dilruba, a stringed instrument. Seeing his and his brother’s interest in music, Keshubhai Udhas enrolled them at the Sangeet Academy in Rajkot.
Pankaj recently revealed in an interview with DNA that he met his beloved Farida way back in 1979. It’s amazing to hear that they had a lovely courtship period of three years. Although those days were tough, Pankaj mentioned that, despite the challenges, Farida’s presence brought him luck. One thing that Pankaj loved about Farida was her contagious laughter, which he found to be very honest. By the way, did you know that Farida was flying for Air India at that time?
The music maestro had a beautiful story to share. He hailed from a family of landlords in Gujarat, while his lovely wife Farida came from a traditional Parsi family. At first, both families had some reservations, however, he was determined to marry with their parent’s blessings. He decided to meet Farida’s father, a retired police officer who happened to possess a licensed gun. After some time, he finally agreed, saying, “If you think you can be happy, then go ahead.” Consequently, they finally got married on February 11, 1982.
Pankaj Udhas Career
Pankaj Udhas sang a beautiful song called “Chandi Jaisa Rang Hai Tera, Sone Jaise Bal”. His older brother, Manhar Udhas, was a stage performer who helped Pankaj get into music. Pankaj’s first stage performance was during the Sino-Indian War. Additionally, he sang “Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo”. As a result, an audience member was so impressed that they rewarded him with Rs. 51. How interesting!
However, his first song in the film “Kamna” may have been a flop, but his rendition was much appreciated. As a result, he was inspired to pursue a career as a ghazal singer. After spending ten months in Canada and the US performing ghazal concerts, his first ghazal album, “Aahat,” was released in 1980.Furthermore, he continued to tour extensively, thus building a dedicated fan base.
Furthermore, he collaborated with other famous artists and released hit albums. In addition, he was known for his versatility as a singer and effortlessly transitioned between different genres of music. Additionally, his live performances were always a treat for his fans, as he had a charismatic stage presence.. Notably, Udhas’s album “Shagufta” was the first to be released on a compact disc in India.
Pankaj Udhas Hit Songs
- Chitthi aai hai..(Naam)
- Chandi Jaisa Rang..(The Legend Forever)
- Na Kajre Ki Dhar..(Mohra)
- Jeeye Toh Jeeye Kaise..(Saajan)
- Chupana Bhi Nhi Aata..(Baazigar)
- Thodi Thodi Piya Karo..(Nasha no.1)
- Ghungroo Toot Gaye…(Best of Pankaj Udhas)
- Hathon Pe Tera Naam..(Mai Khiladi Tu Anari)
- Maahiya Teri Kasam…(Best of Pankaj Udhas)
- Aansoo Judai Ka…(Bollywood Sad Songs)
Death; Ghazal Singer Pankaj Udhas
The ghazal music industry lost a legendary artist on Monday. Pankaj Udhas, who was 72 years old, passed away. Nayaab Udhas, his daughter, shared the unfortunate news on social media. It’s a huge loss for all of us who love his music. Many famous personalities including tabla player Zakir Hussain and singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan visited his residence to pay their respects.During the final rites preparations, the state honored Padmashree Pankaj Udhas with an award. Additionally, read more about his death. https://trendingbites.in
