In the glittering world of Indian music, few moments define a career as dramatically as the recording of ‘Chithi Aayi Hai’ by Pankaj Udhas. Released in the 1986 film ‘Naam’, this soul-stirring ghazal didn’t just captivate audiences—it brought the legendary Raj Kapoor to tears.
Pankaj Udhas, a name synonymous with heartfelt ghazals, initially showed little enthusiasm for the track. He felt it wouldn’t mark a significant shift in his trajectory. But destiny had other plans. When the demo reached Raj Kapoor, the showman insisted Udhas sing it. During the session, Kapoor was overcome with emotion, his eyes welling up. ‘This emotion, this feeling—no one else could sing it,’ he declared.
That endorsement propelled Udhas into the spotlight. Post-‘Chithi’, offers flooded in from films and live stages. Fans no longer saw him merely as a playback singer; he became the maestro of melancholy and romance, infusing every note with raw passion.
Udhas’s legacy extends beyond this hit. His discography boasts timeless tracks that evoke love, longing, and nostalgia. Honors followed: Padma Shri in 2006 and Padma Bhushan in 2025. Though he passed away on February 26, 2024, in Mumbai, his voice echoes eternally, reminding us of music’s power to heal and haunt.