Pankaj Udhas: A film or series based on ghazals should be made on OTT

Veteran musician Pankaj Udhas says that if a musical reality show solely dedicated to ghazals is introduced on OTT, it would do really well. Also talks about the absence of the genre in Bollywood music.

I feel today’s generation is very motivated and talented. But as a senior ghazal singer, I feel they need to focus on getting the pronunciation, diction and understanding of poetry right,” says veteran ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas, who recently organised a virtual charitable ghazal festival, Khazana, which featured several young ghazal artistes.

Pankaj Udhas: A film or series based on ghazals should be made on OTT

While ghazals have been an integral part of Bollywood music in the yesteryear films, Udhas feels that OTT should also explore the genre now. “We saw a series like Bandish Bandits(2020) that was laden with Indian classical music. I feel that OTT is a huge platform that comes up with original ideas. So, ghazals have a tremendous scope there. There can definitely be a series or film based on ghazals and I am sure it will do well. In fact, it would be great to have a musical reality show dedicated solely to ghazals on OTT,” says the Padma Shri recipient.

The singer goes on to say that genres like ghazal or nazm have evolved to stay relevant to the current generation. “I feel that sentimental poetry and musicality can never go out of fashion. For instance, a nazm like Aur Ahista Kijiye Baatein that was sung by me in 1998 is relevant and enjoyed even in 2021. And if something like that is recorded today, it will stay relevant for another 20 years,” says Udhas.