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{{Short description|Indian musician, singer and composer (1934–2024)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Purushottam Upadhyay
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1934|08|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Uttarsanda, [[Kaira district]], [[Bombay Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|12|11|1934|08|15|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| restingplace =
| restingplacecoordinates =
| othername =
| occupation = Music composer, singer
| yearsactive =
| known for = Gujarati semi-classical music
| spouse =
| domesticpartner =
| children = Two daughters
| parents =
| website =
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] (2017)<br>Gaurav Puraskar
}}

'''Purushottam Upadhyay''' (15 August 1934 – 11 December 2024) was an Indian musician, singer and composer who primarily worked in [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] and [[Hindi]] languages. He was well known in Gujarati semi-classical music and composed music for over 20 films and 30 plays. He was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] in 2017.

==Life and career==
Upadhyay was born on 15 August 1934 in [[Uttarsanda]] (now in [[Kheda district]], [[Gujarat]], India), had an interest in music from his childhood. His singing passion developed alongside his interest in listening music. He won numerous awards for performances during his school days. Without informing his family, he left his hometown to pursue a career in music in [[Bombay]] (now Mumbai) but returned due to lack of opportunities. He started working in [[Gujarati theatre]] companies and acted in supporting roles.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Mule |first=Balkrishna Madhavrao |title=ઉપાધ્યાય, પુરુષોત્તમ |url=https://gujarativishwakosh.org/%E0%AA%89%E0%AA%AA%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%A7%E0%AB%8D%E0%AA%AF%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%AF-%E0%AA%AA%E0%AB%81%E0%AA%B0%E0%AB%81%E0%AA%B7%E0%AB%8B%E0%AA%A4%E0%AB%8D%E0%AA%A4%E0%AA%AE/ |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=[[Gujarati Vishwakosh]] |language=gu}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2024-12-11 |title=Legendary Gujarati singer Purushottam Upadhyay passes away at 90, PM Narendra Modi expresses condolences |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/gujarati/music/legendary-gujarati-singer-purushottam-upadhyay-passes-away-at-90-pm-narendra-modi-expresses-condolences/articleshow/116223361.cms |access-date=2024-12-19 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

He came to attention of theatre actor Ashraf Khan when he sang a song originally performed by [[Noor Jehan]]. He returned to Bombay. With the recommendation of Ashraf Khan, he secured a singing contract with [[All India Radio]], Bombay. He also started gaining minor opportunities in the music industry. He developed personal connections with several artists, including [[Amirbai Karnataki]], [[Alla Rakha]], [[Dilip Dholakia]], and [[Avinash Vyas]]. Under guidance of Vyas, he organized music programs at [[Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan]] and also taught at music classes there in Vyas's absence. He also studied classical music from [[Navrang Nagpurkar]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

Upadhyay conducted solo music performances in India and abroad. Apart from singing in Gujarati Sugam Sangeet (semi-classical music), he sang ghazals. He worked with [[Kalyanji–Anandji]] where he gained experience as a music composer. He composed music for playback singers such as [[Lata Mangeshkar]], [[Asha Bhosle]], and [[Mohammed Rafi]]. In the domain of Gujarati Sugam Sangeet, [[Hansa Dave]] was among the singers who performed under his direction.<ref name=":0" />

He composed music for more than 20 films and 30 plays. His well known Gujarati songs include "He Ranglo Jamyo", "Divaso Judaina Jay Che", "Ae Jaashe Jarur Milan Sudhi", "Have Mandir Na Barana", "Mari Koi Dalkhi Ma" and "Kahu Chu Jawanine".<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-12-13 |title=We have lost a gem: Gujarat mourns Purushottam Upadhyay |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/gujarati/music/we-have-lost-a-gem-gujarat-mourns-purushottam-upadhyay/articleshow/116280839.cms |access-date=2024-12-19 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

Upadhyay had two daughters.<ref name=":2" /> He died in Mumbai on 11 December 2024, at the age of 90.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2024-12-12 |title=Purushottam Upadhyay, doyen of Gujarati sugam sangeet no more |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/tribute-to-purushottam-upadhyay-icon-of-gujarati-sugam-sangeet-passes-away-at-90/articleshow/116225679.cms |access-date=2024-12-19 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

==Recognition==
The [[Government of Gujarat]] honoured him with the Gaurav Puraskar for his contributions to Gujarati music.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> In 2017, he received the [[Padma Shri]] from the Government of India.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

==Filmography==
Upadhyay composed, co-composed, or sang songs for following films:

* [[Liludi Dharati (film)|''Liludi Dharati'']] (1968, Gujarati)
* [[Taqdeer (1983 film)|''Taqdeer'']] (1983, Hindi)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{discogs artist|Purushottam Upadhyay}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Upadhyay, Purushottam}}
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:Musicians from Gujarat]]
[[Category:Indian film score composers]]
[[Category:Indian male playback singers]]
[[Category:Gujarati-language playback singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian composers]]
[[Category:Indian male film score composers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male singers]]
[[Category:People from Kheda district]]

Purushottam Upadhyay - Revision history

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