Mehdi Hassan

Mehdi Hassan Khan (Urdu: مہدی حسن خان ‎; July 18, 1927) 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. 

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 didn 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 Mr. Hassan himself written by Farhat Shahzad. Mr. 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.

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
Aage Barhe Na Qissa -E -Ishq -E- Butaan Se Hum
Aaj Tak Yaad Hai Woh Pyar Ka Manzar
Aankhon Se Mili Aankhen
Aap Ki Aankhon Ne
Aaye kuchh abr kuchh sharaab aaye (Poet: Faiz Ahmed Faiz)
Ab Ke Hum Bichde To Shaayad Kabhi Khwaabon Mein Mile (Poet: Ahmed Faraz)
Ae Raushnion Ke Shahr
Apnon Ne Gham Diye To Yaad Aa Gaya
Bhuuli bisri chand umeedein
Chalte ho to chaman ko chaliye
Charaag-e-toor Jalao Bada Andhera Hai
Dekh to dil keh jaan se uthta hai
Dil-E-Nadan Tujhe Hua Kya Hai (Poet: Mirza Ghalib)
Dil Ki Baat Labon Par Laakar.
Dil Men Toofan Chupae Betha Hon
Duniya Kisi Ke Pyaar Mein Jaanat Se Kam Nahin
Dayam Pada Hua Tere Dar Pe Nahi Hoon Main (poet: Mirza Ghalib)
Ek Bar Chale Aao
Ek Bus Tu Hi Nahin Mujhse Khafa ho Baitha (poet: Farhat Shezhad)
Ek Sitam Aur Meri Jaan, Abhi Jaan Baqi Hai (poet: Masroor Anwar)
Fikr hii thaharii to dil ko fikr-e-Khubaan kyon Na Ho (poet: Josh Malihabadi)
Ga Mere Dewane Dil
Garmii-E-Hasarat-E-Naakaam Se Jal Jaate Hai.N
Gulon Main Rang Bhare, Baad-e-Naubahaar Chale (Lyrics: Faiz Ahmed Faiz)
Gulshan gulshan shola e gul ki
Guncha-e-Shauq Laga hei Khilne
Hamari Sanson Men Aaj Tak
Har Dard Ko
Hum mei koi ghum nahi tha ghum-e-aashiqi sai pahlay
Ik Husn Ki Dewi Se Mujhe Pyaar Hua Thaa
Ik khalish ko haasil-e-umr-e-ravaan rehne diya (poet: Adeeb Saharanpuri)
Jab Bhi Aati Hei Teri Yaad Kabhi Shaam ke Baad
Jab Bhi Chahen Ek Nai Sorat
Jab Bhi Pee Kar
Jab Koi Piar Se Bulaae Ga
Jab Us zulf Ki Baat Chali
Jahan Jake Chain
Kahan Gai Woh Wafa
Khuli Jo Aankh Woh Tha (poet: Farhat Shezhad)
Kiya Hei Pyaar Jisse Humne Zindagi ki Tarah
Kya Bhala Mujhko Parakhne Ka Nateeja Nikla
Kyoon Humse Khafa Ho Gaye Ae Jaan-E-Tamanna
Main Hosh Mein Tha
Main khayal houn kisi aur ka (poet: Saleem Kausar)
Main nazar se pee rha hoon
Mohabat Karne Wale
Mohabat Zindagi Hai Aur Tum Meri Mohabat Ho
Mujhe Tum Nazar Se Gira To Rahe Ho
Naavak andaz jidhar diida-e-jaana honge
Patta Patta Boota Boota
Phuul hi phuul khil utthe
Pyaar Bhare Do Sharmile Nain
Rafta Rafta Wo Meri Hasti Ka Saamaan Ho Gaye
Ranjish Hi Sahi Dil Hi Dukhaane Ke Liye Aa
Rim Jhim Ki Barsaat Hai Aur Jaage Huye Jazbaat Hain
Roshan Jamal-e-yaar Se Hain
Saamne Aa Ke Tujhko Pukara Nahin
Sahar Ho Rahi Hai
Shikwa Na Kar Gila Na Kar Ye Duniya Hai Pyaare
Shola Tha Jal Bujha Hoon (penned by: Ahmed Faraz)
Tanha Thi Aur Hamesha Se Tanha Hai Zindagi
Tark-e-Ulfat Ka Sila
Tere Bheege Badan Ki Khooshboo Se
Tere Mere Piar Ka Aisa Nata Hai
Toote Hue Khwabon Ke Liye
Thah ar Thorri Der To
Tu Meri Zindagi Hei (Copied by Nadeem Sharavan in "Ashiqi" Hindi Movie India)
Usne Jab Meri Taraf
Uzr Aane Mein Bhi Hei Aur Bulaate bhi nahin
Wo Dil Nawaaj Hei Lekin Nazar Shinaas Nahin
Yaaro Kisii Qaatil Se Kabhii Pyaar Na Maa.Ngo
Yun na mil mujhse khafa ho jaise
Ye Dhooan Kahan Se Uthta Hei
Ye Kaghzi Phool Jaise Chahre
Ye Mojazaa Bhii Muhabbat Kabhii Dikhaaye Mujhe
Ye Tera Naazuk Badan Hai Ya Koi Mehka Gulaab
Yoon Zindagi Ki Raah Mein Takra Gaya Koi
Zindagi Mein To Sabhi Pyaar Kiya Karte Hain
Zulf Ko Teri Ghataon Ka Payam Aaya Hai
Mehadi Hassan also sung Persian/dari Ghazals In Kabul Afghnistn in 1970s.