Pankaj Udhas : The Silken & The Tranquil

It was not so long ago, a performer had  captured the imagination of a young, upcoming generation. They were fed on The Beatles and the Boltons, and preached by the Madonnas. This fledgling breed of Indians suddenly switched gears, forced by a voice, smooth as silk, a rendition so alluring, the demeanour so fascinating.  Pankaj Udhas had stepped into the world of Ghazal singing and  had made it his own. A generation swayed in moods to the mood he sang, like they did to the pied piper.  It was not so long ago.

It was not so long ago, just in  the mid 80s, when young college goers rushed and scampered to buy Pankaj Udhas’ cassettes. The sales of stereos and 2-in-1s soared in those times. Pankaj Udhas had created a niche and the middle class homes and those of the rich were buzzing with his albums. The ‘Chitthi Aayi Hai Song….’ from the film Naam was a chartbuster and there was no looking back for the suave Pankaj Udhas. It was not so long ago.

It was not so long ago, that the maestro, with his voice, which had unhindered depth and an unimaginable scale, had forged a formidable connect with his niche market. The subtle delivery in his  Ghazal singing created an atmosphere of tranquility within the listener and touched a deeper chord. The language of the piece he sang was contemporary and easy to understand. Though there were the greats Jagjit Singh and Anup Jalota and other accomplished performers like Chandan Das and Mohd Aziz in those days, Pankaj Udhas and his relationship with his listeners was profound and untouched. It was not so long ago.

It was not so long ago, that Pankaj Udhas weaved his charisma not only with his flawless singing, but also with his stylish personality, which in a way lent credence to his singing. The finesse which he brought in his art reflected in the way he looked and appeared on stage. The rich shawl draped exquisitely on his left shoulder as he played the harmonium and the unwavering hairstyle trimmed to the T, Pankaj Udhas was style personified and he maintained this savvy guile, every time. It was not so long ago.

It was not so long ago, that Pankaj Udhas held his first public concert post Covid at Rampur ( A city in West Uttar Pradesh ). The slightly nervy legend came on stage and was greeted by a standing ovation. The crowd almost 6000 strong was indeed from the same generation which had been enamoured by Pankaj Udhas in the 80s, who still were held under his spell. Pankaj Udhas had tears in his eyes. Love for him had not diminished. It was not so long ago.

It was not so long ago that a press byte appeared announcing the silence of the enduring, mesmerising voice of Pankaj Udhas. One of India’s greatest Ghazal singers, had passed into the Ages, leaving behind an  incredible  legacy which entertained and brought tranquility in the lives of many. It was not so long ago.

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