With his trademark kurta-shawl and the mop of jet black on the head, aided by a charming smile, Pankaj Udhas never lived up to his surname and entertained a huge posse of fans over many decades. Geet and ghazal lovers swooned when he put his dulcet voice to soulful lyrics and made music memorable. Case in point is, of course, Chithi aayi hai, Ek taraf uska ghar, Chandi jaisa rang and the likes. As we remember Pankaj Udhas who died on Monday, here’s a list of songs that might not be on top of playlists but also make for good listening.

Jo geet nahi janma

This unforgettable Nitish Bharadwaj-Madhuri Dixit-Jackie Shroff film is hardly worth a dekko but hear this lovely song set to tune by Anand-Milind. Udhas goes through the song like it’s tailormade for him, picturised on a sur-mandal (a musical instrument) playing Bharadwaj. It’s the antras where Udhas sings Koi dukh bhi nahi apna that one finds his winning craft blending pathos and deftness with super ease, giving Bharadwaj his only good screen time after his Mahabharat role. However, very few are aware of this lovely song that does not find many takers even in reality shows.

Jiye to jiye kaise

The ’90s superhit Saajan had perhaps the most number of chartbusters, courtesy the then-hot-duo Nadeem-Shravan but the same number sung by SP Balasubrahmanyam and Anuradha Paudwal perhaps had an edge over Udhas’s version. In hindsight, Udhas sang as competently as SPB and Paudwal but it’s one of those quirky twists of fate that few remember his version. Perhaps echoing one of the lines of the song — Jaise koi sara koi bad dua hogi.

Khuda kare mohabbat mein

Doubtful whether anyone remembers this Vivek Mushran-Manisha Koirala-starrer Sanam (fresh in the wake of Saudagar’s success) but Udhas’s number Khuda kare composed by Anand Milind did grow on one after repeat listening. This song’s lyrics enhance a note of hope, suggesting that something might hold even as things fall apart.

Jheel mein chand

Of all the non-film songs that were played on Vividh Bharati, Udhas’s number from the album Mu-Kar-Rar remains pathos infinite. Hear Udhas as he tackles this high-note composition and gives his soul to Kabse ankhon mein liye baitha hu soorat uski. Crafted in the geet format, this self-penned and composed number comes out really thoughtful, brimming with a propulsive feel. Here’s again a song that has not been heard much but reminisces largely about days of romantic evenings on lakesides and heartbreaks.

Aaj phir tum pe

Sometimes Udhas’s voice would merge with his other popular singer brother, Manhar, that one almost overlooked this popular number from Dayavan (yes, of the famous Vinod Khanna-Madhuri Dixit kiss sequence fame). This number has again come back in a reprised mode by none other than Arijit Singh but hear the original where Udhas sounds deftly observational in warbling the song along with the seasoned Anuradha Paudwal. A heightened sense of rhythm, a typical Laxmikant-Pyarelal factor, helps Udhas give the song a cosy and yet emotional touch.