This article is in memory to the King of Ghazals — Mehdi Hasan Khan. What an irony that a person who loved music but to keep his daily cores in a regular supply had to work on a bicycle shop and then as a mechanic of car and diesel tractor.
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| Mehdi Hasan Khan the King of Ghazals |
Just three days short of his 85th birthday the King of Ghazals — Mehdi Hasan Khan, (Urdu: مہدی حسن خان , Hindi: मेहदी हसन खां) left for the journey to eternity. He breathed his last at 12:22 pm (PST) at Agha Khan Hospital in Karachi.
His life has been a musical one as many have a thought of, but to become a world renowned ghazal singer Mehdi Hasan had to travel a tedious journey in his life time. He was born in the family of musicians which was placed in India in the British times. The family opted for Pakistan after partition, which was the worst time of his life to sustain and keep in hook to his passion. In the days of misery he had to work on a cycle mechanic shop just to keep the wheel of his life moving in a positive direction. To attain more of speed in life he became a car and diesel tractor mechanic. Getting chance in the film industry of Lollywood, was the moment when his life was in top gear, making him the King of Ghazals.
Mehdi Hasan Khan’s life
Mehdi Hasan was born on 18th June 1927 in Luna Village in Rajasthan in a family of Dhrupad singers. He started his early musical education from his father Ustad Azeem Khan and uncle Ustad Ismail Khan—both of them being traditional dhrupad singers. Mehdi Hasan Khan happens to be the 16th generation of hereditary musicians hailing from the Kalawant clan of musicians. In the event of partition the whole family shifted to Chichawatni village in the Punjab province of Pakistan. These were the day which were the toughest for young Mehdi to jell between his passion and fight poverty. For his daily needs Mehdi started to work in a bicycle shop, to meet the daily desires of his family and kept his riyaz (practice of music) to quench his thirst for music.
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| Mehdi Hasan young and talented singer of Ghazals |
Mehdi Hasan Khan got his first breakthrough in Radio Pakistan in 1957, wherein he was given a chance to perform as thumri singer. He began his career as a singer in Pakistani film industry–Lollywood–and the first song that he sung was “Gullon mein rang bharay” in the year 1964 for the film Firangi. With the span of time he expertise into ghazal singing and reached the pinnacle which none has dared to be addressed as the King of Ghazals.
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| Mehdi Hasan and Lata Mangeshkar |
Both the legendary singer of the two countries India and Pakistan had dream to sing a duet. Mehdi Hasan and Lata finally sung their portions in their respective countries in 2009 and 2010 of the song “tera milna” for the album “Sarhadein”. The tracks were later mixed in to make this a memorable song where the two stalwart of the music industry sung together. It was the health problems which restricted Mehdi from traveling to India but why Lata could not travel to Pakistan for this memorable song is not clear till date.
His unique style has fetched him number of award not only in Pakistan but in Nepal and India as well. He was honoured with Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, Pride of Performance and Hilal-e-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan, Saigal award in India and Gorkha Dakshina Bahu by the Government of Nepal.
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| Mehdi Hasan after receiving one award of many he has bagged |
Mehdi Hasan a respected musician
On the death of the King of Ghazals most of the legendary singers are sending their tributes. Abida Parveen the famous Sufi singer said, “Mehdi Hasan sahib gave a special status to ghazals as no one was able to sing ghazals like him”.
Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar commented, “When Mehdi sahib sung it was the God who spoke through his voice”. She further added, “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”.
It is not only the renowned people of the music who have been sending in their condolences messages but even Prime Ministers of different countries have been condoling. Indian Premier Manmohan Singh said, “Mehdi Hasan brought the subcontinental Sufi sensibilities to life through his songs”. On the loss to the musical industry the Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said, “An icon who mesmerized music lovers not only in Pakistan but also in the subcontinent for many decades”.
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
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| King of Ghazal: Mehdi Hasan performing live |
• 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 (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 Afghnistn in 1970s
A legend!!! music lovers will not forget him.
ReplyDeleteRest in peace. AMEEN