Purushottam Upadhyay Passes Away at 90 in Mumbai: Voice Behind Iconic Gujarati Songs

The pride of Gujarat, singer and composer Purushottam Upadhyay, has passed away at his residence in Mumbai. He was 90 years old at the time of his demise, leaving millions of music lovers in mourning. The Gujarat government had honored him with the Gaurav Puraskar, and in 2017, he was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri.

Immortalizing Songs with His Unique Voice

Purushottam Upadhyay gave his voice to timeless Gujarati songs such as He Ranglo Jamyo, Divaso Judaina Jay Chhe, Ae Jaashe Jarur Milan Sudhi, and Kahun Chhu Javanine Jeva, leaving an everlasting impact on Gujarati music.

Pursuing Music in Mumbai Without Family’s Knowledge

Born on August 15, 1934, in Uttarsanda, Kheda, Purushottam Upadhyay had a passion for listening to and singing music from a young age. During his school years, he won several awards in music. His love for music was greater than academics, so he left for Mumbai to pursue a career in music without informing his family. However, when he didn’t find much encouragement in Mumbai, he returned home and began performing small roles in theater companies.

A Turning Point with a Song Sung by Noor Jehan

During one such event, he got the opportunity to sing a song originally performed by the legendary Noor Jehan in the presence of actor Ashraf Khan. This moment became a turning point in his life. Soon after, Purushottam Upadhyay returned to Mumbai, where he started getting small gigs. He connected with renowned artists of the time, such as Ameerbai Karnataki, tabla maestro Ustad Alla Rakha, Gujarati singer Dilip Dholakia, and composer Avinash Vyas. With a recommendation from Master Ashraf Khan, he secured a contract with All India Radio, Mumbai. Additionally, he got the opportunity to manage music events under the guidance of Avinash Vyas at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Mumbai.

Learning Classical Music and Expanding His Career

Simultaneously, he learned classical music from Ustad Navrang Nagpurkar. Whenever Avinash Vyas traveled abroad, Purushottam Upadhyay would take over the music classes at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. Over time, he began organizing his own programs across India and abroad. Alongside Gujarati sugam sangeet, he became popular for his ghazal singing. He also contributed to Bollywood music, collaborating with composers Kalyanji-Anandji. Esteemed singers such as Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, and Mohammed Rafi worked with him during his illustrious career.

Refusing an Offer to Move to Pakistan

In an interview, Purushottam Upadhyay shared that during a performance in Toronto, Sohail Rana, the nephew of Pakistani ghazal maestro Mehdi Hassan, asked him why he didn’t sing in Urdu despite his proficiency. Sohail offered to take him to Pakistan and promised great financial rewards. Upadhyay firmly replied, “Gujarati is my mother tongue. I cannot put my mother aside. I am ready to embrace other languages as extended family, but they can never replace my mother.