(L-R) Vishal Bhardwaj, Sudeep Banerji, Talat Aziz, Papon, Rekha Bhardwaj and Anup Jalota

It’s been around five months since Pankaj Udhas’s demise, and while his friends miss him deeply, they are eager to carry forward his musical legacy. The ghazal singer’s initiative, the annual two-day concert Khazana Festival, which helps raise funds for cancer and thalassemia patients, will take place on July 26 and 27 in Mumbai. For the last four months, the team, including Udhas’s daughters Nayaab and Reva, have been gearing up for the 23rd edition of this event.

On Wednesday afternoon, BT got an exclusive preview of the show, as we captured the musicians - Vishal Bhardwaj, Sudeep Banerji, Talat Aziz, Papon, Rekha Bhardwaj, Anup Jalota and Kavita Seth jamming during their rehearsal.

Talat reminisced, “Back in 2001, we (Pankaj, Anup Jalota and I) were sitting in his study, and that’s where it all began. There are so many fond memories. We toured and did concerts in India and abroad for years. We would conclude most of our shows together. Pankaj would call Anup and me on stage after his performance, and together, we would sing Ghungroo Toot Gaye. The concert this year is a tribute to our friend.”

Another founding member, Anup Jalota, also Udhas’s close friend, says that the void Pankaj has left cannot be described. “Khazana without Pankaj Udhas is going to be like a soulless body because his vision and total involvement were unparalleled. We will sing some of his most beautiful ghazals, including Deewaron Se Milkar Rona, Dard Ki Barish Sahi Maddham Zara Aahista Chal, Chitthi Aai Hai, Chandi Jaisa Rang Hai Tera and others,” said Jalota.

Vishal Bhardwaj says, “I used to be an A&R (artists and repertoire) Manager at a recording company, and Pankaj’s brother Manhar Udhas used to sing there. I would go to his home in the capacity of an A&R Manager. Unko itni zyada tehzeeb thi, itni zyada humanity and humility thi, woh kamaal ki thi. He’d treat me as if I was the owner of the company. He was such a good human being ki aapko shaq hone lagta tha ki koi aadmi itna accha kaise ho sakta hai. But after two or three meetings, I realized he was genuinely like that.”

He adds, “All of us came together got this festival just for one person - Pankaj Udhas. Aisa lag raha hai ki woh ab bhi yahan par hain.”

Rekha, who knew Udhas for a very long time, remembers, “Every year, the festival would go on until the wee hours, and once, he went on stage at around 2.45 a.m. He noticed that I had stayed back to just listen to him. He mentioned that and recited one sher, especially for me. That was such an honour, and that’s how he would make people feel special. I will always carry this memory in my heart.”

Sudeep Banerji, who has been an integral part of the festival for almost a decade, shared, “We were in the 15th year when Pankaj ji asked me to compose the theme song for Khazana. He gave me the entire responsibility, and it was a huge thing for me. I used to compose a lot for him, and not many people know that I also composed Pankaj ji’s last song, which is still unreleased. It was his dream to take the legacy of ghazals forward, and this year will be one of the biggest Khazana festivals ever.”

“Artiste toh bahut log hotein hain, but Pankaj ji kamaal ke insaan thhe. He began a fantastic legacy that has kept ghazal singing alive all these years. Few artistes are able to achieve this kind of love and devotion," said Kavita Seth.

“We always do a medley in Khazana and last year we paid a tribute to Bhupinder Singh ji. I sat next to Pankaj Ji that evening and sang ‘Ek Akela Iss Shahar Mein’. This year’s medley will be for him and I’ll miss sitting next to him. Its not even six months that he is gone, and everyone has come together for the festival with so much love. This is the first year without him and we all want to take his legacy further ahead.”

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Khazana - a Festival of Ghazals has been celebrating the genre for 23 years. A brainchild of music legends Talat Aziz, Anup Jalota and late Pankaj Udhas, the festival, alongside offering a platform to new talent, also works towards charitable causes such as raising funds for thalassemia and cancer survivors. This year, the theme of the two-day event is to celebrate the legacy of Udhas, who passed away in February.

While the artiste lineup for day one (today) features Aziz, Rekha Bhardwaj and Vishal Bhardwaj, Sudeep Banerji and Ananya Wadkar, day two will see Hariharan, Papon, Anup Jalota and Kavita Seth take the stage.

Aziz says, “This Khazana would be different because one of the main founders (Udhas) is no longer with us. But, as they say, the show must go on. I will perform my popular ghazals, including one of Pankaj’s favourites, Kaise Sukoon Paoon.”

Jalota adds, “Many of Pankaj’s ghazals will be sung by the singers, who have performed at the festival over the last 23 years. I don’t know which song to sing. I will plan when I get on stage. But, I’ll surely sing Chitthi Ayi Hai (Udhas’s ghazal from the 1993 film Naam) as a tribute to Pankaj.”

Banerji says it will be tough for him, “emotionally”. He explains, “Pankaj ji was the pillar and guiding force of the festival. He always treated me like a younger brother and always encouraged and appreciated by work. As he always wanted original compositions to be performed at the event, I would be singing some of my own compositions.”

What: Khazana - A Festival Of Ghazals

When: July 26 and 27

Where: Trident Hotel, Nariman Point

Timing: 7 pm onwards