Mohammed Zahoor “Khayyam” Hashmi, also known as ‘Khayyam’, is a famous Indian musician. He composed music for films like ‘Kabhi Kabhie (1976),’ ‘Trishul (1978),’ ‘Dard (1981),’ ‘Dil-e-Nadaan (1982),’ and ‘Umrao Jaan (1981)’ .
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Mohammad Zahoor “Khayyam” Hashmi was born as ‘Saadat Hussain’ on Friday, 18 February 1927 (age 92 at the time of death) in Rahon city of Nawanshahr district in Punjab, British India. Their zodiac sign is Aquarius. In his early teens, he left his home and went to study music but had to return to complete his education. Khayyam ran away to his uncle’s house in Delhi to become an actor. His uncle enrolled him in a school, but when he saw his passion for films, he decided to let him learn music. He received training from Pandit Amar Nath. He then went to Lahore, where he met the famous Punjabi musician Baba Chishti, from whom he later learned music.
Khayyam with Baba Chishti
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 4″
Eye colour: dark brown
Hair Colour: Gray (semi-bald)
Family, Caste and Wife
Khayyam belongs to a highly educated Muslim family. His brothers and sisters are living in Pakistan. He married Jagjit Kaur (singer) in 1954. Khayyam had a son named Pradeep Khayyam, who died of a heart attack on 25 March 2012.
Khayyam with his wife and son
livelihood
At the age of 17, Khayyam moved to Lahore and started working as an assistant to Baba Chishti. Talking about that, Khayyam said-
My job was to give rehearsals to singers and musicians.
He assisted him for six months, after which he returned to Ludhiana in 1943. After a brief stint in the army in World War II, he moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) to pursue a career in films. Talking about the reason for joining the army, Khayyam said-
The British government had promised that if we supported them in the war, they would give independence to the country.”
He made his debut in 1948 in the film “Heer Ranjha” as Sharmaji of the Sharmaji-Vermaji composer duo.
His first success came from the song “Akele Mein Woh Gharbate To Honge” from the film “Biwi (1950)”. Sung by Mohammed Rafi. He adopted ‘Khayyam’ as his screen name with the film “Foot Path (1953)”.
After working in a few films, she gained recognition from the film “Phir Subah Hogi (1958)”, in which the songs were composed by Sahir Ludhianvi and sung by Mukesh and Asha Bhosle.
After doing “Shola Aur Shabnam (1961)”, Khayyam’s reputation as a great composer was established, his most notable works being “Shagoon (1964),” “Kabhi Kabhie (1976),” “Trishul (1978).” Came in films like. ”Dard (1981)”, ”Dil-e-Naadan (1982)” and ”Umrao Jaan (1981)”.
Other work
Apart from music direction, he also worked as a singer. Khayyam made his debut as a singer with the song “Dono Jahan Teri Mohabbat Mein Haar Ke” from the film Romeo and Juliet (1947).
He has also sung “Kab Yaad Mein Tera Saath Nahi” from the movie “Anjuman (1986)”.
He also worked as an actor in the 1948 film “Yeh Hai Zindagi”.
famous tunes
- ‘Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein’ from the film “Kabhi Kabhi (1976)”
- ‘I am the poet of Pal Do Pal’ from the film “Kabhi Kabhie (1976)”
- ‘In Aankhon Ki Masti Ke’ from the movie “Umrao Jaan (1981)”
- ‘Dil Cheez Kya Hai’ from the movie “Umrao Jaan (1981)”
- ‘Aaja Re O Mere Dilbar’ from the film “Noori (1979)”
Awards and Honors
- Hridaynath Mangeshkar Award in 2018
Khayyam receiving Hridaynath Mangeshkar Award
- Padma Bhushan in 2011
Khayyam receiving Padma Bhushan
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award: Creative Music in 2007
- National Film Award for Best Music Direction for the film “Umrao Jaan” in 1982
filmfare awards
- Best Music Director for the film “Kabhi Kabhi” in 1977
- Best Music Director for the film “Umrao Jaan” in 1982
- Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010
Note: Apart from these, he has also won many awards and honors.
Khayyam with his awards
Address
7th Floor, South Apartment
Juhu, Mumbai
Favourite Things
- Restaurants: Saravi in Nagpada, Mumbai, Kareem on Mohammad Ali Road in Mumbai
- Actress: Meena Kumari, Rekha
- Music Directors: SD Burman, RD Burman, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Shankar Jaikishan, Naushad
net worth
Khayyam’s net worth was around Rs 10 crore (in 2016).
Death
Khayyam was admitted to Sujay Hospital in Juhu, Mumbai on 28 July 2019 after suffering from a lung infection. He died on 19 August 2019 at 9:30 pm (IST) due to cardiac arrest.
fact
- He liked watching movies and listening to music.
- Like Khayyam, his father was also interested in music, literature and poetry. Khayyam often took his father and siblings to watch films. While sharing the memory of his father, Khayyam says-
When the train stopped at Khatkar Kalan station, my father made us children stand. Then he said, ‘Salute to this village, this is the village of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, where his ancestral home is.’ During the rest of the journey, my father told us about the inspiring life of Bhagat Singh and how he and his friends chose the noose to liberate the country from the British.
- At the peak of his career, Khayyam was considered the ‘Naushad’ of his time.
Khayyam (far right) with Naushad (far left)
- Jagjit Kaur belonged to an aristocratic family of Punjab. Talking about his first meeting with Khayyam, Jagjeet told that Khayyam had followed him on the overbridge of Dadar railway station. At first she was nervous as she thought he might be following her, but when Khayyam introduced himself to her as a musician, Jagjeet calmed down.
Khayyam with his wife
- Khayyam’s father-in-law disapproved of their marriage. Despite this, their marriage was one of the first inter-communal marriages in the film industry.
- Throughout his career, Khayyam chose to work with poets who had a strong background in poetry. This is why his music always looks different, which has a touch of ghazals and poems.
Khayyam with Mohammed Rafi and Sahir Ludhianvi
- When Khayyam offered Asha Bhosle to sing for the film “Umrao Jaan (1981)”, Asha Bhosle sang the undisputed best songs of her career, which are- “In Aankhon Ki Masti Ke”, “Yeh Kya Jaghan” Hey guys,” and “What’s the heart thing.”
Khayyam with Asha Bhosle
- Apart from Asha Bhosle, he has also worked with her sister Lata Mangeshkar. For the first time they worked together in the film “Pyaar Ki Baatein (1951)”.
Khayyam with Lata Mangeshkar
- Jagjit Kaur was the college mate of former Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh. In 2006, Manmohan Singh took time out from his busy schedule and met Khayyam and his wife.
Khayyam and his wife with Manmohan Singh
- When he turned 90, he decided that he would donate all his earnings to his charitable trust- ‘Khayyam Jagjit Kaur KPG Charitable Trust’ to support aspiring artistes and technicians in the film industry. Talking about this he said-
I have decided that I will donate my entire wealth to help the artistes and technicians who are in need of the film industry. I have given everything to my motherland.”
Khayyam Jagjit Kaur KPG Charitable Trust
- In an interview, Khayyam, while talking about his fees for the film, said-
I was the highest paid musician for over 14 years. Producers used to tell me that I took six times the money compared to other musicians. But since I did limited work and gave my 100% in every project, I was hopeful that I would get the money I demanded. So, I am really satisfied. Hamari film industry ne hamari kadar ki, iske hum shukrugjaar hain (I am grateful to the film industry for giving importance to me).”
An old photo of Khayyam
- In his decades-long career, Khayyam composed music for only 57 films. Talking about this he says-
Like most contemporary composers I could have easily done more than 200 films, but I was clear that I did not want to compromise on quality.
- In August 2019, he was admitted to a hospital in Juhu after falling from a chair at home. After this incident, Jagjit Kaur’s blood sugar level recorded an alarming drop. Both husband and wife were allotted side-by-side cabins in the hospital named ‘Lily’ and ‘Tulip’.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn