Mohammed Zahur “Khayyam” Hashmi, also known as ‘Khayyam’ is a famous Indian music composer. He composed music for films like “Kabhi Kabhie (1976),” “Trishul (1978),” “Dard (1981),” “Dil-E-Nadan(1982),” and “Umrao Jaan (1981).”
Wiki/Biography
Mohammed Zahur “Khayyam” Hashmi was born ‘Sa’aadat Hussain’ on Friday, 18 February 1927 (age 92 at time of death) in Rahon City of Nawanshahr District, Punjab, British India. His zodiac sign is Aquarius. In his early teens, he left home and went to study music but had to return to finish his education. Khayyam ran to his uncle’s house in Delhi to become an actor. His uncle enrolled him in a school, but when he saw his interest in films, he decided to let him study music. He trained under Pandit Amar Nath. He then went to Lahore, where he met Baba Chishti, a famous Punjabi music composer from whom he later studied music.
Khayyam with Baba Chishti
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 4″
Eye Color: Dark Brown
Hair Color: Gray (half bald)
Family, Caste & Wife
Khayyam belongs to a highly educated Muslim family. His siblings reside in Pakistan. He married Jagjit Kaur (a singer) in 1954. Khayyam had a son named Pradeep Khayaam, who died of a heart attack on 25 March 2012.
Khayyam with his wife and son
Career
At the age of 17, Khayyam went to Lahore and started working as an assistant to Baba Chishti. Speaking of that, Khayyam said-
My job is to train singers and musicians.
He helped her for up to six months, after which he returned to Ludhiana in 1943. After serving briefly in the army in the Second World War, he moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) to make his career in films. Speaking about his reasons for joining the army, Khayyam said-
The British government has promised to give freedom to the country if we support them in the war.”
He made his debut as Sharmaji from the composer duo Sharmaji-Varmaji with the film “Heer Ranjha” in 1948.
One of his earliest successes came with the song “Akele Mein Wo Ghabrate to Honge” from the movie “Biwi (1950);” sung by Mohammed Rafi. He adopted ‘Khayyam’ as his screen name with the film “Foot Path (1953).”
After working in several films, he gained recognition through the film “Phir Subha Hogi (1958),” in which the songs were composed by Sahir Ludhianvi and sung by Mukesh and Asha Bhosle.
After he did “Shola Aur Shabnam (1961),” Khayyam’s reputation was established as a great composer, his most famous works came in films like “Shagoon (1964),” “Kabhi Kabhie (1976),” “Trishul (1978),” “Dard (1981),” “Dil-E-Nadan(1982),” and “Umrao Jaan (1981).”
Other Works
Apart from being a music director, he also works as a singer. Khayyam made his debut as a singer with the song “Dono Jaha Teri Mohabbat Me Haar Ke” from the movie “Romeo & Juliet (1947).”
He has also sung “Kab Yaad Mein Tera Saath Nahin” from the movie “Anjuman (1986).”
He also worked as an actor in the 1948 film “Yeh Hai Zindagi.”
Famous Songs
- ‘Kabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein’ from the movie “Kabhi Kabhie (1976)”
- ‘Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shayar Hoon’ from the movie “Kabhi Kabhie (1976)”
- ‘Dalam Ankhon 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 movie “Noorie (1979)”
Awards & Honors
- Hridaynath Mangeshkar Award in 2018
Khayyam Receives Hridayanath Mangeshkar Award
- Padma Bhushan in 2011
Khayyam Receives 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 movie “Kabhi Kabhie” in 1977
- Best Music Director for the movie “Umrao Jaan” in 1982
- Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010
Note: Apart from this, he has won many awards and honours.
Khayyam with his grace
Address
7th Floor, Dakshin Apartment
Juhu, Mumbai
Favorite Things
- Restaurants: Sarvi in Nagpada, Mumbai, Kareem in Mohammad Ali Road in Mumbai
- Actress(s): Meena Kumari, Rekha
- Music Directors: SD Burman, RD Burman, Laxmikant–Pyarelal, Shankar Jaikishan, Naushad
Net worth
Khayyam net worth is around Rs.10 crores (as on 2016).
Death
Khayyam was admitted on 28 July 2019 to Sujay Hospital in Juhu, Mumbai following a lung infection. He died on 19 August 2019 at 9:30 pm (IST) due to a heart attack.
Facts
- He used to like watching movies and listening to music.
- Just like Khayyam, his father was also fond of music, literature, and poetry. Khayyam often took his father and siblings to watch movies. Sharing his father’s memory, Khayyam said-
When the train stopped at Khatkar Kalan station, my father told us children to stand up. He then said, ‘Salute to this village, this is Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s village, where his ancestral home is located.’ Along the way, my father told us about the inspiring life of Bhagat Singh and how he and his friends chose the gallows to free the country from the British.”
- At the height of his career, Khayyam was considered the ‘Naushad’ of the time.
Khayyam (extreme right) with Naushad (extreme left)
- Jagjit Kaur hails from an aristocratic family in Punjab. Talking about their first meeting with Khayyam, Jagjit told that Khayyam had followed him at Dadar Railway Station overpass. At first, she panics thinking he might be stalking her, but when Khayyam introduces himself as a music composer to her, Jagjit calms down.
Khayyam with his wife
- Khayyam’s father-in-law did not approve of their marriage. Despite this, their marriage was one of the first interracial marriages in the film industry.
- Throughout his career, Khayyam chose to work with poets, who had a strong background in poetry. That is why his music always stands out, has a touch of Ghazal and poetry.
Khayyam with Mohammed Rafi and Sahir Ludhianvi
- When Khayyam offered Asha Bhosle to sing for the film “Umrao Jaan (1981),” it made Asha Bhosle sing the best songs of her career, namely- “In Aankhon Ki Masti Ke”, “Ye Kya Jagah Hai Doston,” and “Dil Cheez Kya Hi.”
Khayyam With Asha Bhosle
- Apart from Asha Bhosle, she has also worked with her sister, Lata Mangeshkar. The first time they worked together was in the film “Pyaar Ki Baatein (1951).”
Khayyam with Lata Mangeshkar
- Jagjit Kaur was a college friend of the former Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh. In 2006, Manmohan Singh took time out of his busy schedule to meet Khayyam and his wife.
Khayyam and his wife with Manmohan Singh
- When she turned 90, she decided that she would donate all her earnings to her charitable trust- ‘Khayyam Jagjeet Kaur KPG Charitable Trust’ to support aspiring artists and technicians in the film industry. Talking about it, he said-
I have decided that I will donate my entire wealth to support artists and technicians, who are in need in the film industry. I have given everything I have to my country.”
Khayyam Jagjeet Kaur KPG Charitable Trust
- In an interview, while talking about his charges for the film, Khayyam told-
I am the highest paid music composer for over 14 years. Producers would tell me I was charging six times as much as other music composers. But because I do limited work, and give each of my projects 100%, I expect to get the money I ask for. So, I’m really satisfied. Film industry Humari ne humari kadra ki iske hum shukraguzar hain (I thank the film industry for appreciating me).”
Old picture of Khayyam
- In his decades-long career, Khayyam composed only 57 films. Talking about it, he said-
I could have easily done over 200 films like most contemporary musicians, but I was clear that I didn’t want to compromise on quality.
- In August 2019, he was hospitalized in Juhu after falling from an armchair at home. Following the incident, Jagjit Kaur recorded an alarming drop in her blood sugar count. Both husband and wife were allocated adjacent cabins, named ‘Lily’ and ‘Tulip’ in the hospital.
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
