Pankaj Udhas Death: Ghazal maestro's last rites to be held today at Hindu Crematorium in Worli 

Pankaj Udhas Pic/Pankaj Udhas` Instagram

Ghazal maestro and veteran singer Pankaj Udhas breathed his last on February 26 after a prolonged illness. He was 72. His daughter Nayaab took to Instagram and shared a post detailing his last rites which will be held today. Pankaj will be laid to rest at the Hindu Crematorium in Worli, Mumbai. The funeral will take place between 3 pm and 5 pm. Check out the post below.

Pankaj's demise garnered reactions from several stalwarts of the industry as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wrote on X, "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."

Pankaj Udhas was born in Jetpur, Gujarat on May 17, 1951. He was the youngest of three brothers. His parents are Keshubhai Udhas and Jituben Udhas. His eldest brother Manhar Udhas used to sing in Bollywood movies and his second brother Nirmal Udhas is also a well-known ghazal singer.

Apart from ghazals, he was also known for his works in movies. His first solo ghazal album 'Aahat' in 1980 gave him much recognition. Later, he went on to record several hits such as 'Mukarar' in 1981, 'Tarrannum' in 1982, 'Mehfil in 1983, and many others.

The ace ghazal singer rose to fame with Mahesh Bhatt's 1986 film, 'Naam' starring Nutan, Kumar Gaurav, Sanjay Dutt, Poonam Dhillon, Amrita Singh, and Paresh Rawal. His song 'Chitthi Aayee Hai' created a sensation among music lovers all over the world. It was as selected as one of the 100 songs of the millennium by BBC Radio.

He went on to sing for several other movies such as 'Saath Saath' (1982), 'Utsav' (1984), and 'Prem Pratigyaa' (1989). He has also collaborated with several other artistes such as Jagjit Singh, Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar, and Anup Jalota.

In 1990, he collaborated with legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar for 'Mahiya Teri Kasam' in the movie 'Ghayal'. This song achieved immense popularity. Another hit track also was 'Chandi Jaisa Rang hai tera, sone jaise bal'.

Udhas sang the well-known song 'Na Kajre Ki Dhar' from the film 'Mohra' in 1994, alongside Sadhana Sargam, which was also highly successful. He continued to perform as a playback singer, appearing in films such 'Saajan', 'Yeh Dillagi', and 'Phir Teri Kahaani Yaad Aayee'.

There was no looking back after that and he continued to amaze the audience all over the world through his albums and concerts. In 2006, Pankaj Udhas was awarded Padma Shri. The passing away of legendary ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas has created a void that can never be filled but his voice will be heard for generations to come.

(With inputs from ANI)