1. Pankaj Udhas was an Indian ghazal and playback singer known for his works in Hindi cinema, and Indian pop.
22 Facts About Pankaj Udhas
1. 2.
Pankaj Udhas started his career with the release of a ghazal album titled Aahat in 1980 and subsequently recorded many hits like Mukarar in 1981, Tarrannum in 1982, Mehfil in 1983, Pankaj Udhas Live at Royal Albert Hall in 1984, Nayaab in 1985 and Aafreen in 1986.
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Pankaj Udhas did playback singing for many Hindi films after that.
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In 2006, Pankaj Udhas was awarded Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award.
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Pankaj Udhas was born in Navagadh village of Jetpur in a Charan family of Gujarat.
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Pankaj Udhas's second brother Nirmal Udhas is a well-known Ghazal Singer and was the first of the three brothers to start singing in the family.
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Pankaj Udhas's family moved to Mumbai and Pankaj attended St Xavier's College there.
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Pankaj Udhas's grandfather was the first graduate from the village and went on to become the Diwan of the Bhavnagar State.
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Pankaj Udhas's father, Keshubhai Udhas, was a government servant and had met the renowned Veena player, Abdul Karim Khan, who taught him to play the dilruba.
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When Pankaj Udhas was a child, his father would play the dilruba, a stringed instrument.
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Pankaj Udhas initially enrolled himself to learn the tabla but later began learning Hindustani vocal classical music from Ghulam Qadir Khan Sahab.
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Pankaj Udhas then moved to Mumbai to train under the tutelage of Navrang Nagpurkar, a singer from the Gwalior Gharana.
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Pankaj Udhas' older brother, Manhar Udhas was a stage performer who aided Pankaj in his introduction to musical performance.
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Pankaj Udhas's first song was in the film "Kamna" a solo composed by Usha Khanna and written by Naqsh Lyallpuri, the film was a flop, but his rendition was very much appreciated.
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Subsequently, Pankaj Udhas developed an interest in ghazals and learned Urdu to try to pursue a career as a ghazal singer.
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Pankaj Udhas spent ten months in Canada and the US doing ghazal concerts and returned to India with renewed vigour and confidence.
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In 1986, Pankaj Udhas received another opportunity to perform in film, in the film Naam, which brought him fame.
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In 1994, Pankaj Udhas sang the notable song, "Na Kajre Ki Dhar", from the film Mohra along with Sadhana Sargam which became very popular.
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Pankaj Udhas continued working as a playback singer, making some on-screen appearances in films such as Saajan, Yeh Dillagi, Naam and Phir Teri Kahaani Yaad Aayee.
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Later, Pankaj Udhas started a talent hunt television program called Aadab Aarz Hai on Sony Entertainment Television.
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Pankaj Udhas died, aged 72, of a prolonged illness at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, on 26 February 2024.
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Pankaj Udhas's funeral was held on 27 February 2024 at the Hindu Crematorium in Worli, Mumbai.