Mehdi Hassan

Mehdi Hassan Khan (Urdu: مہدی حسن ‎‎; 18 July 1927 – 13 June 2012) was a Pakistani ghazal singer and a movie playback singer for Lollywood. One of the greatest and most influential figures in the history of ghazal singing, he is famously known as the "King of Ghazal" or the "Shahanshah-e-Ghazal". Known for his "haunting" baritone voice, Mehdi Hassan is credited with bringing ghazal singing to a worldwide audience. Born to a musical family, he influenced generations of singers from diverse genres, from Jagjit Singh to Sonu Nigam. He earned numerous awards and accolades in his career and remained a leading singer of film industry along with the other contemporary playback singer Ahmed Rushdi.

Mehdi Hassan was born on 18 July 1927 in a village called Luna, Rajasthan in Jhunjhunu district in British 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.

In 1947, India became independent and its partition took place, creating a new, Muslim-majority country, Pakistan. The 20-year-old Hassan and his family migrated to Pakistan, carrying little with them by way of material goods. They suffered severe financial hardships in their new country. Mehdi initially started working in Chichawatni, in a bicycle shop Mughal Cycle House. He later became a car and diesel tractor mechanic. Despite the financial hardships, he kept up the routine of his singing practice on a daily basis.

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. In 1964, his ghazal for a film Farangi, "Gulon mein rang bharay,baad-e-naubahar chale" written by renowned Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz and composed by Rasheed Attre, gave him a major break and he never looked back after that.

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 1977, Lata Mangeshkar was so moved by his dulcet vocals during a New Delhi concert that she’s reported to have said, “Aisa lagta hai ke unke gale mein bhagwan boltein hain,” (God sings through his voice). In October 2010, HMV Label 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 Mehdi Hassan himself, written by Farhat Shahzad.Mehdi Hassan recorded it in Pakistan in 2009, and Lata Mangeshkar later heard the track and recorded her part in India in 2010, and the song was later mixed together for a duet. The same duet, "Tera Milna," was also sung by Mehdi Hassan and Noor Jehan.

He had been suffering from a serious lung condition for the few years before his death. 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 shagird" of the ghazal king, paid tribute to his guru.

Some of the musicians who are associated with him :

• Ustad Pir Bakhsh Tabla Player
• Ustad Mohammed Hussain

Some of his students are:

• Pervaiz Mehdi
• Talat Aziz
• Ghulam Abbas
• Salamat Ali
• Afzal,Munni Subhani
• Rehan Ahmed Khan
• Savita Ahuja
• Shamshad Husain Chanda
• Asad Farooq
• Shahnaz Begum (Bangladesh)
• Yasmin Mushtari (Bangladesh)

Mehdi Hassan had 14 children. As many as six of his sons are active in the field of music. They 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).

• http://www.mehdihassan.com/home_page.html, Retrieved 6 Jan 2016
• "Life of Mehdi Hassan". Mehi Hassan.com. Retrieved 14 August 2012. 

Civilian honours

The following civilian honours have been conferred on him.

Awards by the Government of Pakistan

• 1985–Pride of Performance
• Tamgha-e-Imtiaz
• 2010-Hilal-e-Imtiaz
• 2012-Nishan-e-Imtiaz

Government of Nepal

• 1983–Gorkha Dakshina Bahu

Government of India

• K. L. Saigal Sangeet Shahenshah Award

Nigar Awards

• 1964–Nigar Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Farangi
• 1968–Nigar Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Saiqa
• 1969–Nigar Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Zarqa
• 1972–Nigar Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Meri Zindagi Hai Naghma
• 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.

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

• Alam-e-Khwaab ho ya
• Aagay Barhe Na Qissa -E -Ishq -E- Butaan Se Hum
• Aaj tak yaad hai woh Pyaar ka Manzar
• Aaj Tu Ghair
• 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 Milein (Poet: Ahmed Faraz)
• Ae Raushnion Ke Shahr Bata
• Apno Ne Gham Diye To Yaad Aa Gaya
• Arze Niyaze Ishq Ke
• Baat karni mujhe mushkil kabhi aisi tau na thii (poet: Bahadur Shah Zafar)
• Beqarari si Beqarari hai
• Bheegi Hui Aankhon Ka
• Bhuuli bisri chand umeedein
• Chalte ho to chaman ko chaliye (poet: Mir Taqi Mir)
• Chirag-e-toor Jalao bada Andhera hai
• Dekh to dil keh jaan se uthta hai (poet: Mir Taqi Mir)
• Dekhna Unka Kankhiyo Sey
• 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 mein ab yu tere Bhule huye ghum aate hai
• Deewar Dar Pe
• Dil Men Toofan Chupae Betha Hoon
• Duniya Kisi Ke Pyaar Mein Jaanat Se Kam Nahin
• Duniya Se Tujhko
• 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 Jhalak Dikhla De
• Ek Khilta Hua Gulab
• 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)
• faisla tumko bhool jane ka
• Ga mere Deewaane Dil
• Garmi-e-Hasrat-e-Naakaam se jal Jaate Hain
• Garche Sau Bar ghum-e-hijr se jaan
• Ghazab Kiya Tere Waade Pe Aitbaar Kiya (poet: Daagh Dehalvi)
• Gair Banke na mile hum
• Go zara si baat par Barso ke Yaaraane gaye
• Gulo mein rang Bhare Baad-e-Naubahar 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
• Humein koi ghum nahi tha ghum-e-Aashiqi se Pehle
• Hum hi mein thi na koi baat
• Ik husn ki devi se Mujhe Pyaar hua tha
• Ik khalish ko haasil-e-umr-e-ravaan rehne diya (poet: Adeeb Saharanpuri)
• Jab bhi aati hai teri yaad Kabhi Shaam ke baad
• Jab Bhi Chahen Ek Nai Soorat
• Jab Bhi Pee Kar
• Jab Koi Piar Se Bulaae Ga, Tujh Ko Ik Shakhsh Yaad Aaey Ga (poet: Khawaja Pervez)
• Jab Tere Nain Muskurate Hain (Raag Sahara)
• Jab Us Zulf Ki Baat Chali
• Jahan Jake Chain
• Jo Chahte ho woh Kehte ho (Raag Nat Bhairav)
• 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 hoo kisi aur ka (poet: Saleem Kausar)
• Main Nazar se pee raha hoon
• Mohabat Karne Waale (Raag Khamaj)
• Mohabat Zindagi Hai Aur Tum Meri Mohabat Ho
• Mujhe Tum Nazar Se Gira To Rahe Ho
• Naavak andaz jidhar diida-e-jaana honge ( poet: Momin Khan Momin)
• Nishan Bhi Koi Na Chhora keh
• Patta Patta Boota Boota haal Hamaara Jaane hai (poet: Mir Taqi Mir)
• Phuul hi phuul khil utthe
• Pyaar Bhare Do Sharmile Nain
• Qissa-E-Gham Mein Tera Naam
• Rafta Rafta woh meri Hasti ka Saamaan ho gaye
• Ranjish Hi Sahi Dil Hi Dukhaane Ke Liye Aa ( poet: Ahmed Faraz) (Raag Yaman)
• Rim Jhim Ki Barsaat Hai Aur Jaage Huye Jazbaat Hain
• Roshan Jamal-e-yaar se hai
• Saamne Aa Ke Tujhko Pukara Nahin (poet: Khawaja Pervez)
• Sahar Ho Rahi Hai
• Shikwa Na Kar Gila Na Kar Ye Duniya Hai Pyaare
• Shola tha jal Bujha hoo (poet: Ahmed Faraz) (Raag Kirwani)
• Tanha thi aur Hamesha se Tanha hai Zindagi
• Tark-e-Ulfat ka sila
• Tere Bheege Badan ki Khushboo se
• Tere mere Pyaar ka aisa Naata hai
• Teri Khushi mein agar gham mein bhi Khushi na huyi (Raag Madhuwanti)
• Toote huye Khwaabo ke liye
• Thahar Thori der to
• Tu meri Zindagi hai (Copied by Nadeem Sharavan in "Aashiqi" Hindi Movie India)
• Usne jab meri Taraf
• Uzr aane mein bhi hai aur Bulaate bhi nahi (poet: Daagh Dehalvi)
• Woh Dilnawaz hai Lekin Nazar Shanaas nahi
• Yaaro kisi Qaatil se Kabhi Pyaar na Maango
• Yun na mil mujhse khafa ho jaise (Raags Bilawal and Bhairavi)
• Ye Dhuaan kaha se Uthta hai
• Ye Kaghzi Phool Jaise Chahre
• Ye Mojeza bhi Mohabbat Kabhi Dikhaaye Mujhe (Raag MadhuKauns)
• 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 sang Persian/dari ghazals in Kabul Afghanistan in 1970s.