Renowned Ghazal maestro Pankaj Udhas, known for his soul-stirring renditions of Urdu poetry set to music, has passed away at the age of 72, as reported by news agency PTI on Monday.
Pankaj Udhas carved a niche for himself in the Indian music industry with his distinctive style, joining the ranks of eminent musicians such as Jagjit Singh and Talat Aziz in popularizing Ghazals across the nation.
Born on April 17, 1951, in Savarkundla, Gujarat, India, Udhas hailed from a musical family, with his elder brother, Manhar Udhas, achieving success as a Hindi playback singer in Bollywood. After relocating to Mumbai and completing his education at St. Xavier’s College, Udhas rose to prominence with his iconic song “Chitthi Aayee Hai” from the film Naam (1986). Subsequently, he embarked on a prolific career, releasing numerous albums, touring internationally as a celebrated Ghazal artist, and lending his musical talent to film compositions as well as playback singing.
In recognition of his contributions to music, the Indian government honoured Pankaj Udhas with the prestigious Padma Shri award in 2006, further solidifying his legacy in the realm of Indian music.