The legendary ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas passes away at the age of 72, on 26th February 2024. After a prolonged illness, the soulful voice fell silent at around 11 am at the Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai.
His daughter, Nayaab Udhas, posted on Instagram about the demise of the late singer. She wrote, “With a very heavy heart, we are saddened to inform you of the sad demise of Padmashri Pankaj Udhas on 26th February 2024 due to a prolonged illness.” The funeral will take place on 27th February 2024 in Mumbai (as posted on Instagram)
As the news came to light many celebrities, notable figures and his fans offered their condolences to his family through social media.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took X to offer condolence and wrote “We mourn the loss of Pankaj Udhas Ji, whose singing conveyed a range of emotions and whose Ghazals spoke directly to the soul. He was a beacon of Indian music, whose melodies transcended generations. I recall my various interactions with him over the years.
His departure leaves a void in the music world that can never be filled. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.”
Souful Voice : Pankaj Udhas
Born in Jetpur, Gujarat, in 1951, Pankaj Udhas was the youngest and the most successful of the three brothers. Both his elder brothers, Manhar Udhas and Nirmal Udhas were Hindi playback singer and ghazal singer respectively.
In 1980, Pankaj Udhas released his first debut ghazal album, “Aahat. Following the massive success of his first album, he release strings of albums like “Mukarar,” “Tarrannum,” and “Mehfil.”
Udhas’s talent didn’t end there. He went on to sing ghazals in several Hindi movies, most famously in “Naam” (1986) where his heartfelt rendition of “Chitti aayi Hai” became an instant hit. Jeeye To Jeeye Kaise song from the movie “Saajan” is one of the best examples of Udhas’ versatility as an artist. Even though the pace of the song was slower, it still conveyed the essence of love and desire through the lyrics and Udhas’ voice. But it was his songs that really captured the hearts of audiences, providing them with a space for self-discovery and emotional expression.
Udhas performed his last concert on 19th August 2023. He leaves behind a legacy that will motivate upcoming vocalists and music enthusiasts. His passing is a great loss for the music industry, but his voice will always be remembered for years to come by his fans and ghazal lovers.