Though we have many upcoming ghazal singers, there is still no name as prominent as Jagjitji and Ghulam Ali saab. Why? Talat Aziz (L), Anup Jalota (C) and Pankaj Udhas pose for a photograph during a promotional event for the 'Khazana' ghazal festival in Mumbai on July 23, 2014. When one thinks of new ghazal singers, there are, perhaps, none who are as prominent as Ghulam Ali, Jagjit Singh, Talat Aziz or you. So, in all my albums, I have kept my singing style simple, with intense and meaningful poetry, without using Persian and Arabic lyrics extensively. That clicked, and I realised that I had found the success formula. Anyone who could speak Hindi could understand it.I composed it in such a tune that everyone could sing along. So, I composed the ghazal, ‘Aap jinke kareeb hote hain’. It was meant for people who could understand Urdu and Persian.

I wanted to reach out to the masses, as the ghazal was always limited to a very small audience. That’s when I started creating a style of my own. But as I grew up, I realised that I shouldn’t keep singing like them. When I started singing, I was influenced by Begum Akhtar and Mehdi Hassan’s styles. What do you think sets you apart as a ghazal singer? You are believed to have brought the ghazal to the masses. However, I’m optimistic that the story will repeat itself, and that the ghazal will regain its lost glory,” he adds.

Today, once again, I see a challenge similar to the one that the genre experienced around 1978-79. “In my 30 years, as a ghazal singer, I have seen a lot of highs and lows. Read: Babus scramble to finalise venue for Ghulam Ali’s Kolkata concertĪsk him why he feels the musical form took the backseat, and he says, “When a lot of alternate music like pop, rock and Sufi sprung up, the audience got a chance to listen to different kinds of music.” The singer feels the genre is still facing a challenge. I am glad to have been around when the ghazal ruled the roost,” says Udhas. The audience was looking for an alternative. By the time I started out, which was around 1978-79, Bollywood music was struggling to impress the masses. There was a curiosity about this kind of music. “After they arrived on the scene, people started talking about ghazals. He says that the genre only gained momentum with the arrival of artistes like late Mehdi Hassan and late Jagjit Singh. Even then, Bollywood music dominated the scene.” When I started out, the ghazal had just started gaining popularity.

Talking about his journey, Udhas says, “It’s been interesting, challenging and satisfying. His latest show will be held in the city on January 9. That is probably why, even after singing ghazals for about three decades, he continues to perform to full houses. His tracks, ‘Chitthi aayi hai’ and ‘Chandi jaisa rang hai tera,’ among others, have kept music lovers hooked till today. Think of celebrated ghazal singers, and Pankaj Udhas’s name would certainly be among the top few.

Pankaj udhas ghazals