Pankaj Udhas
Name: Pankaj UdhasDate of Birth: 17 May 1951
Birth Place: Jetpur,Gujarat, India
Brother: Manhar Udhas
Pankaj udhas/Pankaj udas nicknamed as "velvet voice of India" was born on 17 may 1951 in Gujarat. He was born in a family of musicians. Pankaj started singing at the age of six and started his tabla lessons at the age of 10. His first public performance, at the age of 11, was in front of 5,000 spectators.
As like Jagjit Singh, Talat Aziz and many more he is best playback singer and ghazal singer of bollywood. Manhar Udhas (pankaj udhas's older brother) achieved success in movies as playback singer. He studied in Sir BPTI Bhavanagar after that he joined St. Xavier's College in Bombay where he completed his graduation. He made a mark at the inter-college music competition and won the first prize in singing.
From the "Naam" film Pankaj was in focus as professional singer. "Chitti Aayee Hai" song became famous which is from this film (Naam). Pankaj Udhas won number of awards for Ghazals.
The India Government has announced a Padmashree Award for Ghazal expert Pankaj Udhas in 2006. Except this he won many awards. He got first award in 1985 as best gazal singer of the year. Pankaj udhas is not in the favor of remix like many traditional musicians, ghazal singer.
Pankaj Udhas - Awards
1985 - He won K L Saigal Award for Best Ghazal Singer of the Year.
1989-1990 - Outstanding Young Persons' Award
1993 - Giants International Award for achieving the highest standards in the field of music
1994 - Radio Lotus Award presented by Radio Lotus, South Africa at the University of Durban
1994 - Honorary Citizenship of Lubbock Texas, USA
1996 - Indira Gandhi Priyadarshani Award for Outstanding achievement in Music
1998 - Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award
1998 - Indian Arts Awards Gala
1999 - USA Award for promotion of ghazals in India and abroad.
2001 - Vocational Recognition Award
2002 - Sahyog Foundation at Mumbai awarded for music.
2003 - Dadabhai Naoroji Millennium Award
2003 - MTV Immies Award for album 'In Search of Meer'
2003 - Special Achievement Award at the Bollywood
2006- Padmashree Award
2006- Kalakar award at Kolkotta for Hasrat as Best Ghazal album of 2005
Hit Songs
- Chitthi Aayi Hai
- Jiye to Jiye kaise
- Na kajare ki Dhaar
- Such boltaa hoon main
- Chandi Jaisa Rang
- Hai Tera