Mehdi Hassan

Mehdi Hassan Khan (; 18 July 1927 – 13 June 2012), known as Mehdi Hassan, was a Pakistani ghazal singer and playback singer of great renown. Known as Shahenshah-e-Ghazal (, "Emperor of Ghazal"), he is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential figures in the history of ghazal singing. Known for his "haunting" baritone voice, Hassan is credited with bringing ghazal singing to a worldwide audience. He is unique for his melodic patterns and maintaining integrity of the ragas in an innovative way.

Born into a family of Kalawant musicians, Hassan was naturally inclined towards music from a young age. He influenced generations of singers from diverse genres, from Jagjit Singh to Parvez Mehdi. He earned numerous awards and accolades during his lifetime and remained a leading singer of Pakistani film industry, along with contemporary playback singer Ahmed Rushdi; it is estimated that Hassan sang for over 300 films during his career. in the village of Luna, then located in the Jaipur State of the Rajputana Agency in British India but now in the Indian state of Rajasthan, into a family of traditional musicians. Hassan started singing at the age of 4-5 and writing lyrics and composing music at the age of 6 completing it with his father Ustad Azeem Khan and uncle Ustad Ismail Khan who were both traditional dhrupad singers. Hassan started his career primarily as a thumri exponent. His first concert of dhrupad and khayal with his elder brother is reported to have been held in Fazilka Bungla, near present DC House (1935) of undivided Punjab. His elder brother Pandit Ghulam Qadir also was instrumental in sharpening his skills. Despite the financial hardships, he kept up his singing practice on a daily basis. 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. so immense was the popularity of Hassan's rendition of the ghazal that Faiz stopped reciting it in his 'mushairas' (poetry reciting events) and, instead, recommended that the audience ask Hassan to sing it for them, because the ghazal now belonged to Hassan. He also received treatment for lung, urinary tract, and chest ailments at several hospitals in Pakistan for about 12 years prior to his death. Towards the end of 2000, he suffered his first stroke while in Kerala, India. In 2005, he was taken to India for ayurvedic treatment where he was welcomed by A.B. Vajpayee, Dilip Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar and many of his Indian fans. He suffered his second stroke soon after he returned from India which left him with speech impairments and is said to have revolutionized the way ghazals were sung. In 1977, Indian playback singer Lata Mangeshkar was so moved by his dulcet vocals during a New Delhi concert that she reportedly said, "Aisa lagta hai ke unke gale mein bhagwan boltein hain" (it seems as though like God is singing through his voice). On 18 July 2018, the day of his 91st birthday, Google featured Hassan on its homepage doodle. Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani paid tribute to Hassan, calling him "an icon who mesmerized music lovers" for decades. and that "the influence of his passion for Urdu poetry and initial grooming in Dhrupad tradition earned for him a special place in the world of music."

Musicians and his students worldwide

Some of the musicians who are associated with him : Ustad Pir Bakhsh, Tabla player Ustad Mohammed Hussain Ustad Tari Khan, Tabla player

Some of his students are: Pervaiz Mehdi Riaz Mehdi Talat Aziz Rajkumar Rizvi Salamat Ali Afzal, Munni Subhani Rehan Ahmed Khan Shamshad Husain Chanda Shahnaz Begum (Bangladesh) Yasmin Mushtari (Bangladesh) Irshad Ali Mehdi Hariharan Tari Khan Amir Yaseen Syed Zeeshan Ali (London UK) Alamgir Mir (London) Israr Chishti

Family Mehdi Hassan had 14 children. As many as 8 of his sons were active in the field of music. Unfortunately two of his sons died. List of his sons. Tariq Mehdi Hassan (Versatile Playback Singer) Arif Mehdi Hassan (Deceased) was Classical Tabla Player Asif Mehdi Hassan (Deceased) was a Playback & Ghazal Singer Kamran Mehdi Hassan Playback & Ghazal Singer) Imran Mehdi Hassan (Classical Tabla Player & Versatile Singer) Faizan Mehdi Hassan (Versatile Ghazal Singer). Sajjad Mehdi Hassan (Deceased) (D.S.P Punjab Police) Shahzad Mehdi Hassan ( Ghazal Singer) Waris Hassan Mehdi ( Pop Singer) Mehdi Hassan has 5 grandsons and his one grandson is active in music

Adnan Hasan

Ali Hasan

Salman Hasan

Muhammad Mehdi Hassan (Classical Tabla Player)

Wali Hasan

Awards

Civilian honours The following civilian honours have been conferred on him, in chronological order.

The Government of India

1979 - K. L. Saigal Award in Jalandhar, India Tamgha-e-Imtiaz

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. Latterly, 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 Hassan 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 Mehdi Hassan & Ghulam Ali: Eternal Jewels (Live At Ras Barse On Zee TV) Mehdi Hassan: The Ultimate Collection (Live At Ras Barse On Zee TV)

Ghazals