'My songs have always spoken the common man's language'

Ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas says every listener relates to the emotional content of his music


Go Pakistan seems to be the motto of most Indian artists nowadays and taking their cue, famous ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas will soon be performing in Pakistan for the first time. Oberoi (Middle East), the event management company that has over the last two decades presented 45 elite cultural and corporate events in UAE, will be organising three concerts of Udhas in Pakistan.

Scheduled at prime venues like Pearl Continental, Lahore on June 17; Marriott, Islamabad, on June 19 and Pearl Continental, Karachi, on June 20, the proceeds of these concerts will be going to Umeed-E-Noor — a charitable organisation for the handicapped.

Udhas was in Dubai last week and I met him while he was enjoying a quiet getaway amidst his hectic global schedule at his friend's sprawling villa in Jumeirah. Suave, sophisticated and articulate, Pankaj was a pleasure to talk to. Excerpts from the interview:

Why did you think of going to Pakistan to perform?
My kind of music has a lot of fan following in Pakistan and I had been waiting for the proper opportunity to perform there. When Naresh came up with this idea, I immediately endorsed it because I have known him since my college days and I knew he would do proper justice to my image. Plus, these concerts will also have a charitable social cause.

What do you feel about the global appeal of your music?
I really feel humbled by all the affection showered upon me by my fans all over the world. I think, one reason why my music has appealed to such a wide audience is that my songs have always spoken the common man's language and that's why every listener relates to the emotional content of my music.

Another thing is I have also made a conscious effort to take my music to them. I remember that in the early days, I had to fight with the authorities at Doordarshan to convince them to air my music.

Why did you choose to become a ghazal singer, when the genre was not so popular?
Sometimes while looking back, I also wonder how I took that decision at such a young age, when ghazal singing was not a wise professional choice and every singer tried to be a playback singer. Yet, I did it out of my passion. Syed Mirza sahab, an elderly Maulavi used to come to teach Urdu to my elder brother Manhar, who was then just getting established as a playback singer. From Mirza sahab, I heard the fascinating Urdu poetry of great poets like Mir and Ghalib for the first time.

Wasn't there a Pakistani influence on your ghazal singing?
I was influenced a lot by Mehdi Hassan. In 1977, I met him in London and stayed with him for more than a month. He became very fond of me and was really surprised to know about my passion for his music. I learnt a lot about nuances of ghazal singing by listening to his ghazals.

Why was there a ghazal boom in 1980s and why has it simmered down?
Action-oriented films left no scope for good music in the 1980s and ghazals with their melodic and lyrical content became a viable alternative. Later as the satellite channels brought in the MTV influence, pop and remixes reigned for a while. But good artists have always survived through all such musical transition.

What do you think about the invasion of techno-sound in music? Didn't you try your hand at it once?
I think this gradual deterioration in music with computers replacing acoustic instruments, is happening all over the world. Yes, I too tried to bring in that modern sound in one of my albums. It did well commercially but I soon realised that it was not my forte.

How did Chitthi Aayi Hai, the unofficial expatriate anthem, happen?
I would tell you how it almost did not happen! Rajendra Kumar, who was producing Naam wanted me to sing this song on screen. Somehow I was conveyed the message that he wanted me to act in the film and for that I was not ready.

I thought what I was going to do in a minor film role when already my singing career had taken off. So I kept on avoiding Rajendra Kumar's calls. So annoyed was he, that he called up my elder brother Manhar and blasted him for my 'arrogance' but later when I told him what was on my mind, he just laughed aloud and said, "Pankaj, I don't want you as an actor. You will just appear on screen singing your song!"

What are your future projects?
2005 will be my 25th year in the music industry and to celebrate that I will be doing many special concerts all over the world.

I have also written my autobiography, which will be released as a part of the silver jubilee.

These memoirs will show Pankaj Udhas as he is. The good, the bad and the ugly — all parts of my life will be frankly presented in that book.

List 10 of your all time favourite songs; five of your own and five of other singers.
Deewaron Se Milkar Rona, Chitthi Aayi Hai, Niklo Na Benaqab, Chaandi Jaisa Rang Hai Tera and Mujhse Mera Kya Rishta of mine.

Of others, I will pick Lataji's Aye Dil-E-Nadaan, Rafi's Tere Mere Sapne, Talat's Jalte Hain Jiske Liye, Mukeshji's Saaranga Teri Yaad Mein and Mannada's Poochho Na Kaise.