The music legend was suffering from a prolonged illness.
"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," wrote Pankaj Udhas's daughter Nayaab Udhas on social media.
Pankaj Udhas is no more, and the news comes as a shock to his countless fans. His departure leaves a void in the world of music; a void that is impossible to be filled. However, one thing is for sure, while he has left this world, his legacy will live on, keeping him alive in our hearts forever.
The legendary Ghazal singer, who was the voice behind numerous hit tracks, passed away on Monday at the age of 73 after a prolonged illness.
(Credit: sonunigamofficial)
“Music has changed many dimensions over a period of time and the change is mainly due to the technology and sound design. But, the good thing about ghazals is that the basic ingredients have not changed — poetry and melody. Even today, when people get tired of other genres, they find peace and solace in ghazals," said the late musician in one of his interviews.
Born on May 17, 1951, Pankaj Udhas carved a separate niche in the music industry with his melodies. As a Ghazal singer, he received fame at an unprecedented level and became an icon of our culture. His voice had that divine power that kept millions of music lovers enthralled for decades, while his renditions resonated with generations. Be it "Chithi Aayi Hai", "Chandi Jaisa Rang Hai Tera", "Aaj Phir Tumpe", "Rishta Tera Mera", or "Na Kajre Ki Dhar" - each of his songs touch the deepest senses in our hearts.
We bid farewell to the "Ghazal Maestro" with a heavy heart. In this article, we share a fact about him that you probably did not know.
Yes, you read it right! While Pankaj Udhas became insanely successful as a singer, he had not initially aspired to become a singer. In fact, his dream was to be a doctor.
As the late musician shared in an interview, "Many people feel that I dreamt of becoming a singer from my childhood days. But that's not true. I wanted to be a doctor. Trust me, I was preparing for it in right earnest. But then, I became a singer and my dream remained unfulfilled. But I am still passionate about medicine and medical science. I stay updated with all the new developments in the field. In fact, I am a self-proclaimed 80 percent doctor and the general physician of my family."
Pankaj Udhas hailed from a town named Charkhadi near Rajkot. His family were zamindars.
Besides music and medicines, Udhas was also passionate about automobiles. In his own words, "I am a sucker for cars. Cars have always made me go nuts. My dad was a government employee and had a jeep. He would never allow me to even go close to it, as it was his prized possession. My dad gifted me a bicycle to make me happy, but I still had this dream for cars. The first thing I bought my earnings was a car. My first car was a Fiat 1951 model. I am very attached to it to date. Even though I own cars in newer models, I still take that old car out for a ride once in a while. Driving is my biggest stress-buster."
As a kid, he learned Hindustani vocal classical music from Ghulam Qadir Khan Sahab.
He was into sports as well. He loved playing cricket and golf during his free time.
Throughout his career, he collaborated with several international artists, including the British musician, Peter Gabriel. Also, he performed at international music festivals in countries like the US, Canada, and the UK.
