Pankaj Udhas
Ghazal maestro Pankaj Udhas is a self-proclaimed patriot and will not hear a word against the nation he was born and raised in. In a brief chat with Bombay Times, the Chandi Jaisa Rang singer talks about the emotional connect he shares with Lata Mangeshkar s Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon and that one time someone rewarded him with 51 rupees for singing the song well. I have an emotional connect with the song ‘Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon’ sung by Lata ji as I learnt this song when I was in school, and that too the radio because in those days, there was no television… there was nothing! And so I learnt this song by heart and it so happened that I sung this song at a Navratri festival when I was 11 years old and I remember it was so very well received that one gentleman from the audience got up and offered a prize of 51 rupees to me for singing it so well. Yes, I have a great connect with this song and obviously, it is a historic song (sic), shared Udhas.