Mumbai: Music composer, Mohammad Zahur ‘Khayyam’ Hashmi, who mesmerized music lovers for decades with soul touching songs, has died in Mumbai. He was 92 and was in hospital for 21 days after collapsing at his home on 28 July.
Mohammad Khayyam was a noted music composer in Bollywood and carved a style of his own from his early days. He will be remembered for his music in movies like Umrao Jaan and Kabhi Kabhi.
He had won the National Film Award for his work in Umrao Jaan and also won Film Fare Award. In 2007 he won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. The Indian government had honoured the veteran music composer with Padma Bhushan in 2011.
In his younger days, Khayyam, had run away from home to study music but had to return to complete education. Nevertheless, he achieved his dream of learning music from the famous Baba Chishti at Lahore when Khayyam was just 17.
He then moved to the then Bombay to pursue his lifelong passion for music. He began to compose music with Hindi movies. He composed tunes for songs that were sung by Mohammad Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhonsle etc.
In 1970s he composed music to Khabi Khabi which was a huge hit and was followed by other memorable songs. Then in 1981 he composed music for the film Umrao Jaan which sealed his fame as a music composer.
Khayyam gave tunes that were melodious, had a profoundness, and the songs were more of poetry. These traits in his music made him stand out from his contemporaries.
He had donated his entire wealth to set up a trust to support budding artists in India.
