Pankaj Udhas’s final journey began with a grand tribute performance by a band. The hearse was decorated with white flowers and carried out in the streets.
Renowned ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas, known for his beautiful voice in romantic songs like “Chitthi Ayee Hai” and “Aur Ahista Kijiye Baatein,” passed away in Mumbai. At the age of 72 after being sick for a long time. His last rites were done by his loved ones the next day. Both the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sadness over his death. Modi wrote. “Pankaj Udhas ji, honored with Padma Shri and other awards, made an important contribution to popularising music. My condolences to his family and fans,” According to Narendra Modi, Udhas’ singing conveyed various emotions and his ghazals spoke directly to the soul.
Udhas, known for singing in movies like Dayavan, Naam, Saajan, and Mohra, passed away around 11 am at Breach Candy Hospital. Mentioning his prolonged illness his daughter Nayaab shared.”With a very heavy heart, we are saddened to inform you of the sad demise of Padmashri Pankaj Udhas on 26th February 2024 due to a prolonged illness.” The Breach Candy Hospital Trust also expressed sorrow and wrote “This is not only a personal loss, but the whole nation has lost a prolific singer and a great human being,”
Pankaj Udhas Funeral
The singer, who reached the height of his career in the 1990s, was laid to rest on Tuesday. Big names like commentator Sunil Gavaskar, filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj and his wife Rekha Bharadwaj, and musicians Zakir Hussain, Taufiq Qureshi, Shankar Mahadevan, and Shaan, along with others, came to pay their last respects at Udhas’ home. He is survived by his wife Farida and daughters Reva and Nayaab. The funeral procession started with a tribute performance by a band, with the hearse, decorated with white flowers, being carried through the streets. Before the funeral, his body was taken for its final journey, draped in the Indian flag.