Ghazal maestro Mehdi Hassan Khan passes away in Karachi, Pakistan.
India-born Iconic vocalist and Ghazal legend Mehdi Hassan, the melodious voice behind evergreen hits like 'Patta patta, boota boota' and 'Kab ke Bichhare', died on Wednesday , June 13, 2012 following multiple organ failure at the age of 84.
Mehdi Hassan, who had millions of fans in India and Pakistan, had been admitted to the Agha Khan Hospital in the southern port city of Karachi two weeks back. He was suffering from multiple ailments, including lung and chest infections. His condition worsened on Wednesday morning and he passed away at 12:22 PM.
Hundreds of fans gathered at the hospital on learning of his death.
Mehdi Hassan Khan (July 18, 1927 – June 13, 2012) was a Pakistani ghazal singer and a former playback singer for Pakistani films. He is famously known as the "King of ghazal", and was highly regarded in the Pakistan film industry. He remained a leading singer of film industry . Mehdi Hasssan died on 13 June 2012 after a protracted illness, in a private hospital in Karachi.
His unique style of presenting Urdu couplets and giving a classical touch to soulful music made him the emperor of ghazals. His silky voice had an enormous range which till date remains unmatched. His mastery over the ragas made him the indisputable master of ghazals in the subcontinent.
Early life
Mehdi Hassan was born on 18 July 1927 in a village called Luna in Rajasthan, India into a family of traditional musicians.
Mehdi Hassan had his musical grooming from his father Ustad Azeem Khan and uncle Ustad Ismail Khan who were both traditional Dhrupad singers.
Hassan started to perform at a young age and the first concert of dhrupad and kheyal with his elder brother is reported to have been held in Fazilka Bungla, near present DC House (1935) of Undivided Punjab.
After the Partition of India, 20-year-old Hassan and his family migrated to Pakistan and suffered severe financial hardships.
Mehdi Hassan initially started working in Chichawatni, in a bicycle shop. He later became a car and diesel tractor mechanic. Despite the financial hardships, his passion for music didn not wither and he kept up the routine of practice on a daily basis.
Singing career
In 1957, Mehdi Hassan was given the opportunity to sing on Radio Pakistan, primarily as a thumri singer, which earned him recognition within the musical fraternity. He had a passion for Urdu poetry, and therefore, he began to experiment by singing ghazals on a part-time basis. He cites radio officers Z.A. Bukhari and Rafiq Anwar as additional influences in his progression as a ghazal singer. Gradually, he became one of the most popular ghazal singers in Pakistan and the neighbouring India.
Death
His funeral took place on Friday,Jun 15, 2012.
KARACHI: The funeral prayer of Ghazal King Mehdi Hassan was offered at the Noorani Mosque near the Ancholi area. His funeral was attended by the speaker of the Sindh Assembly, MQM leaders and thousands of his admirers.
Awards
He had been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions:-
* The Tamgha-i-Imtiaz granted to him by Gen Ayub Khan;
* The Pride of Performance bestowed on him by Gen Ziaul Haq;
* The Hilal-i-Imtiaz conferred by Gen Pervez Musharraf.
* The Nigar Film and Graduate Awards from Pakistan,
* The Saigal Award in Jalandhar, India, in 1979,
* The Gorkha Dakshina Bahu Award was given to him in Nepal in 1983.
Albums
Some of his albums are :-
- Kehna Usey
- Nazarana
- Live at Royal Albert Hall
- Andaz-e-Mastana
- Classical Ghazals vol. 1, 2, 3
- Dil Jo Rota Hai
- Ghalib Ghazals
- Ghazals For Ever Vol 1
- Golden Collection Of Mehdi Hasan Vol 1, 2
- Golden Greats
- In Concert
- Khuli Jo Aankh
- Life Story
- Live at Khambays
- Live Concert in India
- Mehdi Hassan
- Mehdi Hassan Ghazals Vol 1
- Sada E Ishq
- Sarhadein
- Sur Ki Koi Seema Nahin
- The Finest Ghazals
- The Legend
- Yaadgar Ghazalen Vol 1
- Tarz(with Shobha Gurtu)
- Naqsh-e-Faryadi
Ghazals
Some of his ghazals are :-
- Aage Barhe Na Qissa -E -Ishq -E- Butaan Se Hum
- Aaj Tak Yaad Hai Woh Pyar Ka Manzar
- Aankhon Se Mili Aankhen
- Aap Ki Aankhon Ne
- Aaye kuchh abr kuchh sharaab aaye (Poet: Faiz Ahmed Faiz)
- Ab Ke Hum Bichde To Shaayad Kabhi Khwaabon Mein Mile (Poet: Ahmed Faraz)
- Ae Raushnion Ke Shahr
- Apnon Ne Gham Diye To Yaad Aa Gaya
- Bhuuli bisri chand umeedein
- Chalte ho to chaman ko chaliye
- Charaag-e-toor Jalao Bada Andhera Hai
- Dekh to dil keh jaan se uthta hai
- Dil-E-Nadan Tujhe Hua Kya Hai (Poet: Mirza Ghalib)
- Dil Ki Baat Labon Par Laakar.
- Dil Men Toofan Chupae Betha Hon
- Duniya Kisi Ke Pyaar Mein Jaanat Se Kam Nahin
- Dayam Pada Hua Tere Dar Pe Nahi Hoon Main (poet: Mirza Ghalib)
- Ek Bar Chale Aao
- Ek Bus Tu Hi Nahin Mujhse Khafa ho Baitha (poet: Farhat Shezhad)
- Ek Sitam Aur Meri Jaan, Abhi Jaan Baqi Hai (poet: Masroor Anwar)
- Fikr hii thaharii to dil ko fikr-e-Khubaan kyon Na Ho (poet: Josh Malihabadi)
- Ga Mere Dewane Dil
- Garmii-E-Hasarat-E-Naakaam Se Jal Jaate Hai.N
- Gulon Main Rang Bhare, Baad-e-Naubahaar Chale (Lyrics: Faiz Ahmed Faiz)
- Gulshan gulshan shola e gul ki
- Guncha-e-Shauq Laga hei Khilne
- Hamari Sanson Men Aaj Tak
- Har Dard Ko
- Hum mei koi ghum nahi tha ghum-e-aashiqi sai pahlay
- Ik Husn Ki Dewi Se Mujhe Pyaar Hua Thaa
- Ik khalish ko haasil-e-umr-e-ravaan rehne diya (poet: Adeeb Saharanpuri)
- Jab Bhi Aati Hei Teri Yaad Kabhi Shaam ke Baad
- Jab Bhi Chahen Ek Nai Sorat
- Jab Bhi Pee Kar
- Jab Koi Piar Se Bulaae Ga
- Jab Us zulf Ki Baat Chali
- Jahan Jake Chain
- Kahan Gai Woh Wafa
- Khuli Jo Aankh Woh Tha (poet: Farhat Shezhad)
- Kiya Hei Pyaar Jisse Humne Zindagi ki Tarah
- Kya Bhala Mujhko Parakhne Ka Nateeja Nikla
- Kyoon Humse Khafa Ho Gaye Ae Jaan-E-Tamanna
- Main Hosh Mein Tha
- Main khayal houn kisi aur ka (poet: Saleem Kausar)
- Main nazar se pee rha hoon
- Mohabat Karne Wale
- Mohabat Zindagi Hai Aur Tum Meri Mohabat Ho
- Mujhe Tum Nazar Se Gira To Rahe Ho
- Naavak andaz jidhar diida-e-jaana honge
- Patta Patta Boota Boota
- Phuul hi phuul khil utthe
- Pyaar Bhare Do Sharmile Nain
- Rafta Rafta Wo Meri Hasti Ka Saamaan Ho Gaye
- Ranjish Hi Sahi Dil Hi Dukhaane Ke Liye Aa
- Rim Jhim Ki Barsaat Hai Aur Jaage Huye Jazbaat Hain
- Roshan Jamal-e-yaar Se Hain
- Saamne Aa Ke Tujhko Pukara Nahin
- Sahar Ho Rahi Hai
- Shikwa Na Kar Gila Na Kar Ye Duniya Hai Pyaare
- Shola Tha Jal Bujha Hoon (penned by: Ahmed Faraz)
- Tanha Thi Aur Hamesha Se Tanha Hai Zindagi
- Tark-e-Ulfat Ka Sila
- Tere Bheege Badan Ki Khooshboo Se
- Tere Mere Piar Ka Aisa Nata Hai
- Toote Hue Khwabon Ke Liye
- Thah ar Thorri Der To
- Tu Meri Zindagi Hei (Copied by Nadeem Sharavan in "Ashiqi" Hindi Movie India)
- Usne Jab Meri Taraf
- Uzr Aane Mein Bhi Hei Aur Bulaate bhi nahin
- Wo Dil Nawaaj Hei Lekin Nazar Shinaas Nahin
- Yaaro Kisii Qaatil Se Kabhii Pyaar Na Maa.Ngo
- Yun na mil mujhse khafa ho jaise
- Ye Dhooan Kahan Se Uthta Hei
- Ye Kaghzi Phool Jaise Chahre
- Ye Mojazaa Bhii Muhabbat Kabhii Dikhaaye Mujhe
- Ye Tera Naazuk Badan Hai Ya Koi Mehka Gulaab
- Yoon Zindagi Ki Raah Mein Takra Gaya Koi
- Zindagi Mein To Sabhi Pyaar Kiya Karte Hain
- Zulf Ko Teri Ghataon Ka Payam Aaya Hai
- Mehadi Hassan also sung Persian/dari Ghazals in Kabul Afghnistan in 1970s.
India and Mehdi Hassan Khan Sahib
Mehdi Hassan Khan Sahib had millions of fans in India. The great singer, till the very end, yearned for his birth country, India. He had last performed in India in 2000 and had planned to visit in 2008 but the trip had to be cancelled . Then in 2010, he had expressed his desire to visit India and meet Lata Mangeshkar and Amitabh Bachchan. But owing to poor health, the singer could not cross the border.
Interesting facts --
· In October 2010, HMV released "Sarhadein" in which probably the first and last duet song Tera Milana featuring Mehdi Hassan and Lata Mangeshkar was released. This song was composed by Mr. Hassan himself written by Farhat Shahzad. Mr. Hassan recorded it in Pakistan in 2009, and Lata Mangeshkar later heard the track and recorded her part in India in 2010 and later mixed together for a duet.
* Talat Aziz and late Jagjit Singh were his disciples.
Tributes –
* New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today led millions of fans in India in mourning the demise of of Ghazal king Mehdi Hassan, saying he will always have a special place in the world of music.
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* New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep anguish at the death of legendary Pakistani singer Mehdi Hassan, who died Wednesday after a prolonged illness. She said with his death "we have lost a true cultural ambassador of India and Pakistan".
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"It is a very sad news. I am really upset ever since I heard this news. Not only me, the entire world loved his songs. There is no doubt about it that he was an outstanding singer," Mangeshkar told IANS.
In 2010, 'Tera Milana', a duet by the two legends was launched as part of an album named 'Sarhadein'. While Hassan recorded it in Pakistan in 2009, Mangeshkar later heard the track and recorded her part in India in 2010. It was later mixed together for a duet.
Lata, 82, says they shared mutual respect. "I have shared a very good relationship with him. I really respect him a lot and even he used to respect me a lot. I have met him just two to three times, he was a wonderful human being."
"Gaana ek aisi cheez hai jo sabko nazdeek rakhta hai...Gaanewale hamesha nazdeek ke hi hote hai (Music keeps everyone close, and singers are always close to one another)," added Mangeshkar.
She also took to Twitter to share her emotions and wrote that Hassan "brought an important change in ghazal segment" and that it would be difficult to "find an artist" like him.
"Wo bohot bade shastriya sangeet ke gayak bhi the, aur unke gaane me Rajasthan ke sangeet ki khushboo bhi thi," she wrote and added that he composed songs for her.
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* Mumbai : Superstar, Shahrukh Khan went down the memory lane to recall the time when he was young and listened to Mehdi Hassan's famous Ghazals.
external links : wikipedia
external links : wikipedia
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