India, May 18 -- The city paid an emotional tribute to the late ghazal maestro Pankaj Udhas on Sunday as the square opposite Sterling Apartments at Peddar Road was formally inaugurated as 'Padma Bhushan Pankaj Udhas Chowk' on the occasion of his 75th birth anniversary. The chowk was inaugurated by Maharashtra cabinet minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha in the presence of members of the Udhas family, artistes and admirers of the singer whose velvety voice helped bring ghazals into the mainstream.

Among those present, along with Udhas' wife Farida and daughters Nayaab and Reva, were veteran singers Hariharan, Sonu Nigam and Papon, and music composer-singer Salim Merchant. "He took ghazals to the common man; so many of them are still fondly remem...