Pankaj Udhas cremated with state honours – Emotional farewell to the ghazal maestro | – Times of India

Ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas passed away on February 26 in Mumbai, after battling prolonged illness. The celebrated musician was 72 years old and was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Mumbai.
His final journey began from his residence in Mumbai and he was honored with a state salute by the Mumbai Police. His last rites were performed at Mumbai’s Hindu Crematorium and he was cremated around 5pm on February 27.Celebrities like Soni Nigam, Vidya Balan, Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan, and Sunil Gavaskar were spotted at the crematorium, where they paid their last respects to the musical maestro. His daughter broke down in tears during the funeral, which also saw the presence of Pankaj Udhas’ elder brother MaManhar Udhas.

The unfortunate news of Pankaj Udhas’ demise was confirmed by his daughter Nayaab, who shared a statement on social media. Nayaab wrote, “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. Udhas family.” The celebrated musician is survived by his wife Farida and daughters Reva and Nayaab.
In 2006, Pankaj Udhas was honored with a Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award. Some of his celebrated works are ‘Chitthi Aayee Hai’, ‘Na Kajare Ki Dhar’ and ‘Chandi Jaisa Rang Hai Tera’ among others.