Pankaj Udhas, whose mellifluous ghazals became a staple at parties and gatherings in the 1980s and 1990s, has passed away at the age of 72 after a prolonged illness in a Mumbai hospital. With his captivating voice and easy-to-listen compositions, Udhas sold millions of cassettes and packed hundreds of concerts, introducing ghazals to new followers across big cities and small towns in India. His breakthrough Bollywood hit, ‘Chitthi aayee hai’, topped the charts in 1987 and struck a chord with NRIs and PIOs. Udhas’ charming non-film ghazals in albums like ‘Muqarrar’ and ‘Paimana’ also won him a dedicated fan base.

Born in Gujarat, Udhas was initially inclined towards the sound of the musical instrument ‘dilruba’ played by his father. He later pursued Hindustani vocal classical music, learning from renowned teachers like Ghulam Qadir Khan Sahab and Master Navrang Nagpurkar. His clear diction, mellifluous voice, and the flowing style of singing made him an accomplished singer. In the 1980s and 1990s, Udhas, along with Talat Aziz and Anoop Jalota, formed a young generation of ghazal singers who contributed to the genre’s popularity. He released numerous albums throughout his career.

Pankaj Udhas sang his first Bollywood song, ‘Tum kanhi samney aa jao’, in 1972, and later went on to compose music for some Hindi films. Though he couldn’t establish himself as a successful tunesmith like his contemporary, Anoop Jalota, Udhas left an indelible mark with his soul-stirring renditions. His passing is mourned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described Udhas as a beacon of Indian music, and Union I&B Minister Anurag Thakur, who hailed his enriching career and the irreparable loss caused by his demise.