Ghazal night in Dubai, by Pankaj Udhas

Pankaj Udhas will celebrate 32 years of performing in the UAE tonight at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Ghazal maestro Pankaj Udhas will be performing live for his audiences tonight at The Dubai World Trade Centre. The Padmashree award winner, who is celebrating 35 years of his musical journey, will be singing some of his most loved songs of all time such as Chitthi Aayee hai, Chaandi Jaisa Rang Hai Tera, Jiyein Toh Jiyein etc., during the evening. Excerpts from an interview.
Can you tell us more about your show in the UAE?
I am really looking forward to this concert because I have been performing in the UAE since 1983. This would be the 32nd year of my performance in the UAE and 35 years of my journey of ghazal singing. It is a great opportunity for me to come to Dubai and perform for this wonderful audience, which is so cosmopolitan and into ghazals. The concert would consist of ghazals, which are my personal favourites. There are always requests for songs like Chitti Aayi Hai, Jiyein Toh Jiyein Kaise, Chaandi Jaisa Rang etc., so obviously I would be singing those. I have prepared a beautiful medley because it is very difficult for me to sing all the popular songs in the stipulated time. So I would be doing a beautiful medley of 8-10 songs, which should cover the whole list of popular songs. I am really looking forward to a wonderful concert in Dubai.
Which songs of yours are instant hits with the audience?
The audience loves my ghazals like Deewaaron Se Milkar Achcha Lagta Hain, Sabko Maaloom Hai Main Sharaabi Nahin, Ek Taraf Uska Ghar. Songs like Chaandi Jaisa Rang Hai Tera, Chitti Aayi Hai, Ghunghru Toot Gaye are also extremely popular.
What is it that you enjoy about performing live?
Live performance is a great experience because you get a chance to showcase your talent and also elaborate on various phrases and nuances. It's beautiful because whatever experiments or innovations you do on stage, you can hear the reaction of the audiences immediately by their claps. The instant reaction from the audience is so very encouraging and thrilling. The excitement that you experience on stage can never be felt in a studio. Performing live is a great high for me.
Do you have any routines that you perform before going on stage?
I have a small 15-minute session with my musicians in the dressing room where we all laugh and joke to loosen ourselves and to get the butterflies out of our stomach. With one sentence, 'let's go and get them', we go onto the stage and perform with full energy.
How do you keep yourself updated on music? Do you feel your musical style has had to change with the changing times?
I have been a believer of change. I believe that every musician has to evolve and grow with the changing times. I feel that every musician must change his approach to different styles because if you are singing a song or performing in a particular style, its very obvious that you want to continue that style. But within that style and parameters, you can bring in so many changes by bringing in different sounds or instruments or a different style of compositions.
You make sure that you stay with the current and the contemporary sounds. It is very important that your sound should not be dated; you've got to move with the time and contemporary flavour. That's what I have been doing all along and the biggest example is my last album called Khamoshi Ki Aawaaz, which is very much in tune with the contemporary sound.