“With a very heavy heart, we are saddened to inform you of his demise on the 26’1′ of February 2024 due to a prolonged illness.The funeral will take place on Tuesday, February 27 from 3 to 5 pm. Venue: Hindu Crematorium, Worli (Mumbai) Landmark: Opp. Four Seasons, Dr. E. Moses Rd, Worli,” The Udhas Family shared in a statement. He is survived by wife Farida and daughters Reva and Nayaab.
Udhas, one of those credited for making the genre popular along with Talat Aziz and Jagjit Singh, released his first album Aahat in 1980 and went on to release over 50 albums in a four-decade career. This was apart from the songs, evoking gentle romance, he crooned as a playback singer.
Tears and tributes flow as ghazal maestro Pankaj Udhas passes away due to prolonged illness
He was born in Gujarat’s Rajkot town to a family of musicians. His father Keshubhai Udhas played the string instrument dilruba. And his two elder brothers Manhar Udhas and Nirmal Udhas were well-known singers too.
He is perhaps most famous for Naa Kajaare ki dhar, Aye ghame zindagi kuch to de mashwara, Maikhane se sharab, Chandi jaisa rang hai tera sone jaise baal, Aaj fir tum pe pyaar aaya, Mohabbat inyat karam dekhte hain, Jaaneman karwate badal badal and Chahat desh se aane wale.
Udhas was synonymous with ghazals, an Arabic word that means “conversing with the beloved”. It developed in Persia in the 10th century AD from the Arabic verse form ‘qasida’, according to rekhta.com.
His voice is deeply rooted and etched in the minds and souls of people and no one can take his place in ghazal singing.