Mehdi Hassan

Mehdi Hassan Khan (Urdu: مہدی حسن خان ‎‎; July 18, 1927 – June 13, 2012) was a Pakistani ghazal singer and a former playback singer for Lollywood. He is famously known as the "King of Ghazal". In 1979, he was awarded K. L. Saigal Sangeet Shehenshah Award by the Government of India. Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar, who has been awarded Bharat Ratna, once compared his songs to the "voice of god". He was honored with Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, Pride of Performance and Hilal-e-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan. In 1983, in the court of King Birendra he was awarded Gorkha Dakshina Bahu by the Government of Nepal. He remained a leading singer of film industry along with Ahmed Rushdi. Mehdi Hassan died on 13 June 2012 after a protracted illness, in a private hospital in Karachi. The highest civilian honor of Pakistan is conferred on him Nishan-e-Imtiaz.

Early life

Mehdi Hassan was born on 18 July 1927 in a village called Luna, Rajasthan in jhunjhunu district in India into a family of traditional musicians. He claims to be the 16th generation of hereditary musicians hailing from the Kalawant clan of 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 initially started working in Chichawatni, in a bicycle shop. He later became a car and diesel tractor mechanic. Despite the financial hardships, 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. His first song was "Jis ne mere dil ko dard diya" film Susral in 1962. Later Lata Mangeshkar said compliments for him that "Bhagwan talks in his throat".

Following a severe illness in the late 1980s, Mehdi Hassan stepped down from playback singing. Later due to severity of his illness he completely departed from music.

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 Hassan himself written by Farhat Shahzad. 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. "Tera Milna" was also sung by Madam Madam Noor Jehan with Khan Sahib.

Musicians, students and personal life

Some of the musicians who are associated with him

Ustad Pir Baksh Tabla Player

Ustad Mohammed Hussain

Some of his students are:

• Pervaiz Mehdi
• Talat Aziz
• Ghulam Abbas
• Salamat Ali
• Afzal, Munni Subhani
• Rayan Ahmed Khan
• Savita Ahuja

He had 14 children. Some of his notable sons in the music are:

• Tariq Mehdi Hassan (Versatile Playback Singer)
• Arif Mehdi Hassan (Classical Tabla Player & Promoter)
• Asif Mehdi Hassan (Playback & Ghazal Singer)
• Kamran Mehdi Hassan (Playback & Ghazal Singer)
• Imran Mehdi Hassan (Classical Tabla Player & Versatile Singer)
• Faizan Mehdi Hassan (Versatile & Ghazal Singer).

Awards

Civilian honors

The following civilian honors have been conferred on him.

Pakistan

• 1985-Pride of Performance
• Tamgha-e-Imtiaz
• Hilal-e-Imtiaz
• Nishan-e-Imtiaz

Government of Nepal

• 1983-Gorkha Dakshina Bahu-

Government of India

• K. L. Saigal Sangeet Shehenshah Award

Nigar Awards

• 1964-Nigar Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Firangi
• 1968-Nigar Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Saiqa
• 1969-Nigar Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Zerqa
• 1972-Nigar Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Meri zindagi hai nagma
• 1973-Nigar Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Naya rasta
• 1974-Nigar Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Sharafat
• 1975-Nigar Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Zeenat
• 1976-Nigar Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Shabana
• 1977-Nigar Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Aaina
• 1999-Nigar Award Special Millennium Award

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; and the Hilal-i-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.

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
• Mehdi Hassan (EMI-Pakistan Released)VOLUME 1
• Mehdi Hassan Sings Punjabi Film Hits (EMI-Pakistan Released)
• Mehdi Hassan (EMI-Pakistan Released) VOLUME 2

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
• Baat karni mujhe mushkil
• 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-E-Veeran Hai Teri Yaad Hai Tanhai Hai
• 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
• 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
• Nishan Bhi Koi Na Chhora keh
• Patta Patta Boota Boota
• Phuul hi phuul khil utthe
• Pyaar Bhare Do Sharmile Nain
• Qissa-E-Gham Mein Tera Naam
• 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 Afghanistan in 1970s.

Death

He had been suffering from a serious lungs condition for the few years before his death in 2012. There were rumors of his death on January 13, 2012. However, his son Asif Mehdi confirmed that the death rumors were incorrect, and that he was responding to treatments and recovering.

Mehdi Hasan died at around noon on 13 June 2012 at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi after suffering a 12-year long tenure of lung, chest and urinary tract diseases.

Populus Global in association with Musicolor organised the first tribute to shahensha-e-ghazal Mehdi Hassan on 14 July 2012. Ustad Mohan Khan, ganda bandh shishya of the ghazal king paid tribute to his guru.

MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE

Posted in: Showbiz,Singer