Life
Born into a family of musicians on 18th July 1927 in a small village Luna in Rajasthan, Mehdi for a long time could not pursue his passion. The ghazal maestro was trained at home in his initial years by his father Ustad Azeem Khan and uncle Ustad Ismail Khan who were traditional Dhrupad singers. Being the 16th generation of a musical family, young Hassan had harbored to make a career out of music.
The family was plagued by financial troubles when they shifted to Pakistan during partition. Young Hassan started working in a bicycle shop and later became a car mechanic. But as they say, the passion never died. He continued to pursue his interest, his passion, albeit behind closed doors, within the vicinity of his home.
His first break came in 1957 when he got the opportunity to sing a ‘thumri’ number for Radio Pakistan. The number got him instant recognition in the musical fraternity and he got more offers to sing.
The talented singer had an interest in Urdu poetry and slowly started experimenting with ghazals. Two producers of Radio Pakistan, ZA Bukhari and Rafiq Anwar, tapped this singer’s unique talent and encouraged him to sing ghazals on radio. Hassan had even admitted that he owed a lot to Bukhari and Anwar for establishing his career. The singer soon became a hit amongst the masses as well as discerning audience and ‘Rafta Rafta Wo Meri Hasti Ka Saamaan Ho Gaye’.
The veteran not only sang beautiful ghazals but also rendered his voice to several film numbers in Pakistan. Many feel that the 60s and 70s were dominated by Hassan and his style of ghazals.
His unique style of presenting Urdu couplets and giving a classical touch to soulful music made him the emperor of ghazals. His 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.
Hassan had advocated a shared culture, history and music to play a vital role in strengthening ties between Pakistan and India.
In the interview, Hassan had said, "My body belongs to the world but my soul lies in India."
Hassan married twice and is survived by 14 children: nine sons and five daughters.
Awards
He had been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions: the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz granted to him by Gen Ayub Khan; the Pride of Performance bestowed on him by Gen Ziaul Haq; and the Hilal-e-Imtiaz conferred by Gen Pervez Musharraf. Besides the Nigar Film and Graduate Awards from Pakistan, he was presented the Saigal Award in Jalandhar, India, in 1979, whereas the Gorkha Dakshina Bahu Award was given to him in Nepal in 1983. Recently, he travelled to Dubai to receive yet another award.
Remembering Mehdi Hassan
World, especially Asian Subcontinent mourning his death, but feel his songs will keep him alive forever.
Indian 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.
Leaders from various political parties condoled Hassan`s death and said his mellifluous voice will continue to echo for generations. In his message, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal described Hassan as a versatile singer who gave new dimension to the Ghazal singing and regaled millions of music lovers not only in his country but across the globe. Badal described Hassan as `Shahenshah-e-Ghazal`. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that with Hassan`s death, India and Pakistan lost their true cultural ambassador. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said music buffs will never forget his ghazals while his Rajasthan counterpart Ashok Gehlot said he was saddened by Hassan’s demise.
Melody queen Lata Mangeshkar, who once called Hassan the `voice of God`, said, "A singer like him is born once in a millennium. It is my bad luck that I could not sing with him when he was healthy. Now I can only regret. With his demise the music fraternity has lost a great and legendary singer."
Singer Talat Aziz, who trained under Hassan, said, "I feel a tremendous personal sense of loss. I was his `shagird`, I spent a lot of time with him. Though he was not singing for quite some time, but he will be missed. There will never be another Mehdi Hassan."
Pakistani Sufi singer Abida Parveen said. "I remember him saying I can see `sur`. He was legendary. Such people come only once in a while,"
Another Pak singer Adnan Sami said, "He has been an inspiration to anyone who has anything to do with music. It`s difficult to digest that he has passed away."
Zila Khan said, "I am sad as I was when my father died. What aesthetics of music, what a great artiste he was. In his field of work he was a king because his choice of `kalam`, his music, was supreme."
"It is a great loss. Everyone learnt from his music, technique and style of singing. I had the opportunity to meet him and he was always encouraging. He has been unwell since quite some time," said singer Chitra Singh, wife of late Jagjit Singh.
"It is a very sad news. I am shocked that he is no more with us. He was not only a great singer but also a very good human being. I was aware that he was unwell and I had always hoped that I should never get the sad news. But now that has happened, he will always remain alive in our hearts," said veteran musician Pyare Lal.
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has mourned the death of ghazal maestro Mehdi Hassana and said the era of soulful ghazal singing has come to an end.
"It's a setback to ghazal gayiki (singing). He was a school of singing. Just like Dilip-Raj-Dev influenced a generation of actors, similarly Mehdi Hassan's style influenced most ghazal singers," says Urdu poet Nida Fazli. "Hassan globalised ghazal.
Singer Bhupinder remembers Hassan not only as a great singer of ghazals but also of Pakistani film songs. "His rendition was refined, the style soulful, and his diction immaculate. Unki aawaz mein taiyaari (mature) bhi thi aur thahraav (stillness) bhi ,"
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Some of his albums and ghazals are
Albums
Kehna Usey
Nazraana
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
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 (Faiz Ahmed Faiz)
Ab Ke Hum Bichde To Shaayad Kabhi Khwaabon Mein Mile (Ahmed Faraz)
Ai Raushnion Ke Shahr
Apnon Ne Gham Diye To Yaad Aa Gaya
Bhooli Bisri Chand Umeedein
Chalte Ho To Chaman Ko Chaliye
Charaagh-E-Toor Jalao Bada Andhera Hai
Dekh To Dil Ke Jaan Se Uthta Hai
Dil-E-Naadaan Tujhe Hua Kya Hai (Mirza Ghalib)
Dil Ki Baat Labon Par Laakar.
Dil Men Toofan Chupaae Baitha Hoon
Duniya Kisi Ke Pyaar Mein Jaanat Se Kam Nahin
Dayam Pada Hua Tere Dar Pe Nahi Hoon Main (Mirza Ghalib)
Ek Bar Chale Aao
Ek Bus Tu Hi Nahin Mujhse Khafa Ho Baitha (Farhat Shezhad)
Ek Sitam Aur Meri Jaan, Abhi Jaan Baqi Hai (Masroor Anwar)
Fikr Hi Thahari To Dil Ko Fikr-E-Khubaan Kyon Na Ho (Josh Malihabadi)
Ga Mere Dewane Dil
Garmi-E-Hasarat-E-Naakaam Se Jal Jaate Hain
Gulon Main Rang Bhare, Baad-E-Naubahaar Chale (Faiz Ahmed Faiz)
Gulshan Gulshan Shola-E-Gul Ki
Ghuncha-E-Shauq Laga Hai Khilne
Hamari Saanson Men Aaj Tak
Har Dard Ko
Humein Koi Ghum Nahin 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 (Adeeb Saharanpuri)
Jab Bhi Aati Hei Teri Yaad Kabhi Shaam Ke Baad
Jab Bhi Chaahen Ek Nai Soorat
Jab Bhi Pee Kar
Jab Koi Pyar Se Bulaaey Ga
Jab Us Zulf Ki Baat Chali
Jahan Jaa Ke Chain
Kahan Gai Woh Wafa
Khuli Jo Aankh Woh Tha (Farhat Shezhad)
Kiya Hai Pyaar Jisse Hum Ne Zindagi Ki Tarah
Kya Bhala Mujhko Parakhne Ka Nateeja Nikla
Kyoon Hum Se Khafa Ho Gaye Ae Jaan-E-Tamanna
Main Hosh Mein Tha
Main Khayal Hoon Kisi Aur Ka (Saleem Kausar)
Main Nazar Se Pee Raha Hoon
Mohabat Karne Wale
Mohabat Zindagi Hai Aur Tum Meri Mohabat Ho
Mujhe Tum Nazar Se Gira To Rahe Ho
Naavak Andaz Jidhar Deeda-E-Jaanan Honge
Patta Patta Boota Boota
Phool Hi Phool 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 Hai
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 (Ahmed Faraz)
Tanha Thi Aur Hamesha Se Tanha Hai Zindagi
Tark-E-Ulfat Ka Sila
Tere Bheege Badan Ki Khushboo Se
Tere Mere Pyar Ka Aisa Naata Hai
Toote Hue Khwabon Ke Liye
Thahar Thodi Der To
Tu Meri Zindagi Hai
Usne Jab Meri Taraf
Uzr Aane Mein Bhi Hei Aur Bulaate Bhi Nahin
Wo Dil Nawaaz Hei Lekin Nazar Shinaas Nahin
Yaaro Kisi Qaatil Se Kabhi Pyaar Na Maango
Yun Na Mil Mujhse Khafa Ho Jaise
Ye Dhuwaan Kahan Se Uthta Hei
Ye Kaghzi Phool Jaise Chehre
Ye Mojazaa Bhi Muhabbat Kabhi 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
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