Mehdi Hassan The Legend (Passed away)

Mehdi Hassan Khan (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", and was highly regarded in the Pakistan film industry. He was honoured with Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, Pride of Performance and Hilal-e-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan, and Gorkha Dakshina Bahu by the Government of Nepal.

He remained a leading singer of film industry along with Ahmed Rushdi. Mehdi Hasssan died on 13 June 2012 after a protracted illness, in a private hospital in Karachi.


Early life
Mehdi Hassan was born on 18 July 1927 in a village called Luna in Rajasthan, 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, his passion for music did not wither and 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. Gradually, he became one of the most popular ghazal singers in Pakistan and the neighbouring India.

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.


Death
He had been suffering from a serious lung 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.




Awards
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

Ghazals

1.  Aage Barhe Na Qissa -E -Ishq -E- Butaan Se Huma
2.  Aaj Tak Yaad Hai Woh Pyar Ka Manzar 
3. Aankhon Se Mili Aankhen 
4. Aap Ki Aankhon Ne 
5. Aaye kuchh abr kuchh sharaab aaye 
6. Ab Ke Hum Bichde To Shaayad Kabhi Khwaabon Mein Mile 
7. Ae Raushnion Ke Shahr 
8. Apnon Ne Gham Diye To Yaad Aa Gaya
9. Bhuuli bisri chand umeedein 
10. Chalte ho to chaman ko chaliye 
11. Charaag-e-toor Jalao Bada Andhera Hai
12. Dekh to dil keh jaan se uthta hai
13. Dil-E-Nadan Tujhe Hua Kya Hai
14. Dil Ki Baat Labon Par Laakar
15.  Dil Men Toofan Chupae Betha Hon 
16. Duniya Kisi Ke Pyaar Mein Jaanat Se Kam Nahin
17. Dayam Pada Hua Tere Dar Pe Nahi Hoon Main
18. Ek Bar Chale Aao
19. Ek Bus Tu Hi Nahin Mujhse Khafa ho Baitha 
20. Ek Sitam Aur Meri Jaan, Abhi Jaan Baqi Hai 
21. Ga Mere Dewane Dil
22. Garmii-E-Hasarat-E-Naakaam Se Jal Jaate Hai
23. Gulon Main Rang Bhare, Baad-e-Naubahaar Chale
24. Gulshan gulshan shola e gul ki
25. Guncha-e-Shauq Laga hei Khilne
26. Hamari Sanson Men Aaj Tak
27. Har Dard Ko
28. Ik Husn Ki Dewi Se Mujhe Pyaar Hua Thaa
29. Ik khalish ko haasil-e-umr-e-ravaan rehne diya 
30. Jab Bhi Aati Hei Teri Yaad Kabhi Shaam ke Baad
31. Jab Bhi Chahen Ek Nai Sorat
32. Jab Bhi Pee Kar
33. Jab Koi Piar Se Bulaae Ga
34. Jab Us zulf Ki Baat Chali
35. Jahan Jake Chain
36. Kahan Gai Woh Wafa
37. Khuli Jo Aankh Woh Tha 
38. Kiya Hei Pyaar Jisse Humne Zindagi ki Tarah
39. Kyoon Humse Khafa Ho Gaye Ae Jaan-E-Tamanna
40. Main Hosh Mein Tha
41. Main khayal houn kisi aur ka 
42. Main nazar se pee rha hoon
43. Mohabat Karne Wale
44. Mohabat Zindagi Hai Aur Tum Meri Mohabat Ho
45. Mujhe Tum Nazar Se Gira To Rahe Ho
46. Patta Patta Boota Boota
47. Phuul hi phuul khil utthe
48. Pyaar Bhare Do Sharmile Nain
49. Rafta Rafta Wo Meri Hasti Ka Saamaan Ho Gaye
50. Ranjish Hi Sahi Dil Hi Dukhaane Ke Liye Aa
51. Roshan Jamal-e-yaar Se Hain
52. Saamne Aa Ke Tujhko Pukara Nahin
53. Sahar Ho Rahi Hai
54. Shola Tha Jal Bujha Hoon
55. Tanha Thi Aur Hamesha Se Tanha Hai Zindagi
56. Tark-e-Ulfat Ka Sila
57. Tere Bheege Badan Ki Khooshboo Se
58. Tere Mere Piar Ka Aisa Nata Hai
59. Toote Hue Khwabon Ke Liye
60. Thah ar Thorri Der To