Renowned ghazal maestro and recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri award, Pankaj Udhas, famous for iconic melodies like “Chitthi Ayee Hai” and “Aur Ahista Kijiye Baatein,” passed away on Monday after battling a prolonged illness, as confirmed by his daughter Nayab. He was 72.
Nayab Udhas shared the news on Instagram, expressing deep sorrow:
“With a heavy heart, we announce the passing of Padma Shri Pankaj Udhas on February 26, 2024, after a prolonged illness.”
Udhas passed away around 11 a.m. at Breach Candy Hospital, according to a family source. The last rites are scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
Pankaj Udhas has been a dominant figure in the realm of ghazals for numerous years. His soothing and melodious voice is unmistakable. Born in Gujarat, he received training in tabla from the Sangeet Natak Akademi in Rajkot.
For Udhas, who kickstarted his career with the ghazal album ‘Aahat’ (1980) and subsequently released three other highly successful albums — ‘Mukarar’, ‘Tarrannum’, and ‘Mehfil’, a song from the movie ‘Naam’ (1986) proved pivotal in propelling him to stardom.
This breakthrough not only solidified his presence in Bollywood but also contributed significantly to his growing fame.
Although Udhas had made his film debut in the early 1970s with Kamna, the project was unfortunately shelved, resulting in a major setback. Overcoming this disappointment, took him years of perseverance and struggle to establish himself as a prominent singer.
