Pankaj Udhas: From Rs 51 Reward to Ghazal Emperor, A Musical Journey

• Pankaj Udhas, born May 17, 1951, in Jetpur, Gujarat, came from a musical family with two elder singer brothers.
• At age 10, he performed 'Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon' during the India-China war, receiving a 51-rupee reward that marked his musical beginning.
• He pursued education, earning a BSc, while continuing musical training under Ustad Ghulam Qadir Khan and Navrang Nagpurkar.
• His film career began in 1972 with 'Kamna', but his breakthrough came with the hit ghazal 'Chitthi Aayi Hai' in the 1986 film 'Naam'.
• Known for ghazal albums like 'Aahat' (1980), he received the Padma Shri in 2006 and Padma Bhushan in 2025, passing away on February 26, 2024, at 72.