Legendary composer and mentor Charanjit Ahuja passed away at his home in Mohali on Sunday. He was 72.
Ahuja, who had been battling cancer for several years and undergoing treatment at PGI, leaves behind a void that the Punjabi music industry will find impossible to fill. He is survived by his wife, Sangeeta Ahuja, and four sons, including Sachin Ahuja, a prominent music director and composer in his own right.
Ahuja was not just a composer. He was a visionary who shaped the careers of some of Punjabi music’s greatest stars. He recognised Amar Singh’s raw talent and elevated him from a local stage performer to a Punjab-wide sensation; he made him Chamkila.
He guided and gave music to artistes like Sardool Sikander, Gurdas Maan, Surinder Shinda, and many others. Ahuja began his musical journey at a time when LP records and cassettes were in vogue and Punjabi music was rapidly spreading across India.
While working with HMV, he played a key role in giving new artists studio recordings, thereby providing them with legitimate recognition.
Ahuja’s musical legacy spans 17 films and countless albums, with timeless tracks such as “Kaun Tera Pardesi,” “Yaara Oh Dildaara,” and “Mil Gaya Mil Gaya”. His work in films like “Kee Banu Duniyan Da” (1986), “Gabhroo Punjab Da” (1986), and “Dushmani Jattan Di” (1993) helped define the golden era of Punjabi stage and studio music.
Ahuja’s last rites were performed at the crematorium in Mohali at 1 pm today on Monday.
