The famous Indian ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas died on 26 February due to his prolonged illness. His songs and ghazals reside in the hearts of many Indians. Here’s what you all need to know about this gem of the Indian music industry.
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Pankaj Udhas Biography
Pankaj Udhas was born in Independent India on 17 April 1951 in a small village in Gujarat Savarkundla. His parents’ names were Keshubai Udhas and Jituben Udhas. He was the younger one of the three siblings. His two elder brothers – Nirmal Udhas and Manahar Udhas, are also famous singers.
Hence, he was brought up in the environment of singers. He studied at Sir BPTI, Bhavnagar. Pankaj Udhas later moved to Mumbai (Bombay at that time) with his family, where he attended St. Xavier’s College.
| Full Name | Pankaj Udhas |
| DOB | 17 May 1951 |
| Place of Birth | Jetpur, Gujarat |
| Father’s Name | Keshubhai Udhas |
| Mother’s Name | Jituben Udhas |
| Siblings | Nirmal and Manahar Udhas |
| Profession | Indian Singer |
| Genre | Ghazal |
| Instruments | Vocals, Tabla, Harmonium, Piano, Guitar, Violin |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Farida Udhas |
| Children | Reva Udhas and Nayaab Udhas |
| Awards | Padma Shri (2006) |
| Death | 26 February 2024 at Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai |
| Cause of death | Prolonged illness |
Pankaj Udhas is a recognized Indian Ghazal Singer, his career began with his album Aahat. He has recorded many albums, composed songs for movies, and sung many Bollywood songs.
Early Life and Education of Pankaj Udhas
Pankaj Udhas’s family were zamindars, his grandfather was a graduate of his village, and he became the revenue minister of Bhavnagar State. His father Mr. Keshubhai Udhas, was a government servant, and he started playing when he met the famous veena player Abdul Karim. His father used to play Dilruba (stringed instrument) when Pankaj Udhas was a child.
All the brothers were influenced by music from early childhood, and seeing their interest in music, Keshubhai Udhas admitted them to Sangeet Academy in Rajkot.
Pankaj Udhas learned vocal Indian classical music from Ghulam Qadir Khan Sahab.
When Pankaj Udhas moved to Bombay, he studied and completed his bachelor’s in Science from St. Xavier’s College.
He trained under the tutelage of Navrang Nagpurkar, a well-known singer from Gwalior Gharana.
Pankaj Udhas Career and Achievements
Pankaj Udhas’s elder brother Manhar Udhas was the first one who got into singing performances and sang songs for Bollywood. He introduced Pankaj Udhas to musical performances.
During the Sino-Indian War, he performed his first stage performance and sang the famous song of the Late Lata Mangeshkar “Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo.”
Udhas started his career as a singer in 1980 with the release of his first ghazal album “Aahat.” He recorded many albums afterward, such as Mukarar (1981), Tarannum (1982), Mehfil (1983), Nayaab (1985), and Afreen (1986).
He got his first break in Bollywood through Mahesh Bhatt’s film, Naam. The song “Chithi Aayi hai” from Naam has made him famous in the film industry and among the Indian audience. He sang with Late Lata Mangeshkar a beautiful melody “Mahiya Teri Kasam” for the film “Ghayal.”
Later on, he sang and composed many songs for movies and performed on various global stages. He has taken Indian classical music to a global platform. Throughout his career, he has received the following awards for his contribution to Indian music:
| Award | Year |
| K..L. Saigal Award for the best Ghazal singer of the year | 1985 |
| Outstanding Young Person’s Awards | 1990 |
| Giants International Award | 1993 |
| Radio Lotus Awards, South Africa | 1994 |
| Honorary Citizenship of Lubbock Texas, USA | 1994 |
| Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award | 1996 |
| Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award by the American Academy of Artists in Atlantic City | 1998 |
| Indian Arts Awards Gala | 1998 |
| USA Awards for Extraordinary, Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan | 1999 |
| Indo-American Chamber of Commerce | 2002 |
| Award for Music Excellence, Mumbai | 2002 |
| Dadabhai Naoroji Millenium Awards | 2003 |
| Special Achievement Awards at the Bollywood Music Awards | 2003 |
| MTV Immies Awards | 2003 |
| Kalakar Awards at Kolkata | 2006 |
| Padma Shree | 2006 |
Networth of Pankaj Udhas
Pankaj Udhas was a well-known Indian singer, who has bagged many awards and performed at prestigious stages all around the globe. He has recorded 50 albums in his career.
From the data recorded in 2023, his net worth is anticipated around $100,000 and $1.5 million. Pankaj Udhas left this world on 26 February 2024 due to a chronic disease. He will be alive through his music and songs in the hearts of many music lovers.
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