Gulzaar and Pankaj Udhas create Nayaab Lamhe

What do you get when an internationally acclaimed poet-lyricist and ghazal icon join hands for the first time? Nayaab Lamhe (Timeless Moments). That’s exactly Gulzar and Pankaj Udhas’ latest ghazal album together is called.

Udhas was over the moon. “The whole of the last year, has been a dream come true for me. Can’t think of whether to call it coincidence/destiny that I’ve collaborated with a poet-lyricist I have adored since early childhood.

Through the 50s and 60s, radio was the only source of entertainment for me. I’d first heard the timeless Mora Gora Ang Lai Le (Sujata) by Gulzar saab loved the Gulzar-Lata Mangeshkar combination. I, then began seeking out his songs.”

Udhas, the ghazal maestro is credited as one of the pillars of ghazal singing in India for bringing a different style to this genre of music. He enjoys immense popularity among the masses and classes alike. He also deserves credit for making the ghazal popular at a time when it was losing its foothold over the masses. Today, amidst the cacophony of high-speed pop music, he has proved that the ghazal still charms music-lovers the world over and that music is not what is churned out of machines but something that emerges from an artiste’s soul.

Udhas says soon after college he met the Emperor of Ghazals Mehendi Hassan in 1977. “He couldn’t stop praising the songs from Mausam. When I heard them I hoped to sing his words. Our paths never crossed until 2018 when my friend Salim spoke to Gulzar saab last year.”

Udhas remembers how Gulzar made him comfortable and at home during their sessions over the year. “I wanted him to write freely. In any case, who am I to brief a stalwart like him? His tremendous knowledge of music, poetry, literature and language ensures that he is able to catch the popular imagination with each work,” he says calling it, “one of my finest experience in the 40 years of singing.”

The legendary lyricst Gulzar said he was happy the album is being offered as a CD/pendrive. “This is necessary. You just can’t download songs digitally and sit down to listen to them,” he said and added, “It should be possible to spend an entire evening listening to one shaayar, if possible.”

Though Udhas suggested the album be called ‘Lamhe Gulzar’ suggested it should be called Nayaab Lamhe since Udhas’ daughter is called Nayaab.

Gulzar’s poetic style marks a sensitivity laced with the lyrical but psychologically adept examination of human sensibilities. His poems incorporate the mundane to create vivid images. He has also been honoured with Dadasaheb Phalke Award and Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration as also with a number of National Film Awards.

The only Oscar awardee Indian poet-lyricist expressed sadness that non-film music space has shrunk rapidly because of digital music. “Footpathiya music has also led to less discerning audiences. Earlier, non-film music occupied at least 70 per cent of the music space.”

Music for the album, which consists of six different ghazals namely Baarish, Na Jaane Kahan, Raat Who Ruki Nahin, Woh Din Gaye, Dekho Ahista Chalo and Jalan Gar has been scored by Udhas himself, while music arranger Deepak Pandit has both arranged the music and played the violin. Both the music programming and guitar solos have been taken care of by composer Sanjay Jaipurwale. Several well known musicians have contributed to creating this album including Pt Sunil Das (sitar), Rakesh Chaurasia (flute), ID Rao (saxophone, clarinet, soprano and English flute), Tapas Roy (charango, saaz and rabab), Heera Pandit and Ojas Adhiya (tabla) and Nirmal Pawar (percussion).

The project started on Nayaab Udhas’ birthday on December 14, 2017. She says, “Each and every moment spent with Gulzar uncle and my dad was a blessing. So much to learn and I feel very fortunate to witness this collaboration, which became even more special as Gulzar uncle suggested my name be added to the album title. I feel truly blessed. What a journey it has been!”