The Ghazal maestro was laid to rest after receiving full state honors during the last rites in Mumbai on Tuesday. Pankaj Udhas, a Padma Shri recipient, passed away on February 26 at the age of 72.
The singer’s mortal remains were draped with the National Flag as part of his final rites. Pankaj Udhas’ final journey commenced with a tribute performance by a band. The hearse, adorned with white flowers, proceeded through the streets.
Numerous celebrities arrived at his Mumbai residence to offer their condolences. Personalities such as musicians Shankar Mahadevan and Ustad Zakir Hussain, former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, and actor Vidya Balan were among those who came to pay their respects.
Pankaj Udhas’ daughter, Nayaab, shared a statement on Instagram which read, “With a heavy heart, we are saddened to inform you of the passing of Padmashri Pankaj Udhas on 26th February 2024 due to a prolonged illness.”
Singer Rekha Bhardwaj also expressed her grief over the loss of the Ghazal maestro Pankaj Udhas, calling it a “personal loss”. She told ANI, “It is a personal loss for us. We had a long association with him through Khazana (Ghazal festival). Besides his songs, we witnessed his patience and wisdom…”
Meanwhile, Veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt reminisced about shooting the iconic song ‘Chitthi Aayee Hai’ from his 1986 film ‘Naam’ with the late Ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas, revealing that initially, the artist was hesitant to be part of the movie.
Earlier, renowned devotional singer Anup Jalota recalled his close bond with the late Ghazal maestro Pankaj Udhas, saying, “I have lost my friend.”
“People have lost Pankaj Udhas, a great Ghazal singer. I have lost my friend. The trio of Pankaj (Udhas), Talat (Aziz), and I was very famous. We did a lot of concerts together. I am deeply saddened by the demise of Pankaj Udhas. He brought Ghazal into every household and carved a place for himself in people’s hearts. It was a significant contribution that can never be forgotten,” Jalota was quoted as saying.
