Mumbai: Renowned Gujarati singer and music composer Purushottam Upadhyay has passed away at the age of 90. He breathed his last at his residence in Mumbai, leaving millions of music enthusiasts in mourning. Upadhyay was the recipient of the Gujarat Gaurav Puraskar from the Gujarat government and the Padma Shri award.

Upadhyay immortalized numerous songs like He Ranglo Jamyo, Divaso Judaina Jay Che, Ae Jaashe Jarur Milan Sudhi, and Kahu Chu Jawanine, among others, through his timeless compositions and voice. He composed music for over 20 films and more than 30 plays. His compositions for Gujarati songs have transcended India’s borders, resonating in the hearts of Gujaratis living in every corner of the world.

Prime Minister expressed deep sorrow over the demise of renowned composer and in a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “Deeply saddened by the news of the demise of the renowned composer Purushottam Upadhyay, who kept the Gujarati language alive through light music across the globe. This is an irreparable loss to the world of art. His melodious voice and musical compositions will always remain alive in our hearts. Prayers for the departed soul and condolences to the grieving family…Om Shanti”

ગુજરાતી ભાષાને સુગમ સંગીત થકી વિશ્વભરમાં જીવંત રાખનારા સુપ્રસિદ્ધ સ્વરકાર પુરૂષોત્તમ ઉપાધ્યાયના નિધનના સમાચારથી ઊંડો આઘાત અનુભવું છું. કલા જગત માટે આ એક ન પુરી શકાય તેવી ખોટ છે. તેમના મધુર અવાજમાં સ્વરાંકન સંગીત રચનાઓ હંમેશાં આપણા હૃદયમાં જીવંત રહેશે.

સદ્ગતના આત્માની શાંતિ માટે…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 11, 2024

Upadhyay, born on August 15, 1934, in Uttarsanda, Kheda, developed a passion for music early on, winning several awards during his school years. Driven by his love for music, he moved to Mumbai to pursue a career but returned when initial efforts were unsuccessful. He later began performing in theatre companies. A pivotal moment in his career came when he was given the opportunity to sing a song originally performed by Noor Jehan in front of actor Ashraf Khan. This marked a turning point, leading to collaborations with renowned artists and securing a contract with All India Radio, Mumbai, as well as managing music events at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.

Upadhyay also trained in classical music under Ustad Navrang Nagpurkar and later conducted music classes at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Vyas’s absence. Gradually, he began organizing his programs both in India and abroad. Known for his work in Gujarati light music and ghazals, he collaborated with Bollywood composers like Kalyanji-Anandji and sang with legends like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, and Mohammed Rafi.

In 2017, he was conferred the Padma Shri by then-President Pranab Mukherjee for his contributions to music. DeshGujarat