'Chhithi aayi hai' turns 25, continues to enthrall ghazal lovers

“You know the song was almost not going to happen,” reminisces ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas about the iconic Chhithi aayi hai from Naam which has completed 25 years.

Yesteryear leading man Rajendra Kumar who was producing the movie called Udhas said, “I want you to act in my movie.”

Though not too enthused with the idea of acting, Udhas thought it would be seen as disrespectful to flatly say no. He said he would get back.

When Udhas didn’t call for a week, Kumar called his elder brother Manhar and asked him why his brother was so ill-mannered and rude.

“When my brother found out my predicament he told me to call Kumar Sir and clarify. I told Sir I don’t know how to act and it will be difficult for me to do so,” recounts Udhas.

“He burst out laughing and explained that he wanted me to sing for his movie and this would be shot as a song I’m performing.”

Speaking to DNA on the occasion of the launch of his new album Moments with Pankaj Udhas he said, “Even today it is a rare that the audience at a concert does not demand this song. Particularly, diasporic audiences, who have in the past made this demand to other artistes too.”

When asked whether audiences will get to hear this number at Sunday's special concert for his album launch, he smiles, “That depends entirely on the audience.”

Admitting that he was moved when he first saw the lyrics by Anand Bakshi, Udhas, who is preparing to launch his memoirs by the end of the year with the same title, says he is amazed at how much the song moves audiences who’ve migrated away from their friends and family.

“Few days ago in Nairobi I was consoling an elderly member of the audience overwhelmed by the song even when he came back stage. He told me, ‘You will never know the sorrow of being forced to live away from the only way of life you know.’ I completely understand his pain. In fact unless I empathise how can my voice emote when I sing such powerful lines?”