Entertainment

Khayyam passes away at 92

Staff Correspondent
In this file photo taken on 18 February, 2019 Bollywood music director and background score composer Mohammed Zahur Khayyam, better known as Khayyam, poses for photographs during his 92nd birthday celebration at his home in Mumbai. Photo: AFP
In this file photo taken on 18 February, 2019 Bollywood music director and background score composer Mohammed Zahur Khayyam, better known as Khayyam, poses for photographs during his 92nd birthday celebration at his home in Mumbai. Photo: AFP

India's legendry music composer Mohammed Zahir Hashmi, known only as Khayyam in his musical journey, passed away late on Monday night in a hospital in Mumbai following a brief illness, an aide said.

He was 92.

He is survived by his singer wife Jagjit Kaur.

Khayyam was known for his music in Bollywood classics like "Kabhie Kabhie", "Trishul", "Razia Sultan", "Noorie" and "Umrao Jaan". He also composed music for Meena Kumari's album, "I Write, I Recite" featuring her singing her own poetic compositions.

Adorned with the National Award, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and a Padma Bhushan, Khayyam was admitted to the Sujoy Hospital in Juhu last week for a lung infection, said his spokesperson Pritam Sharma.

Having a keen ear for music, he started his musical career from Ludhiana at the age of 17.

He was honoured with the Indian National Award, and a Filmfare Award, besides several other honours for his melodious music in "Umrao Jaan", starring Rekha, Naseeruddin Shah and Farooque Sheikh.

Khayyam's non-film songs are equally loved by his fans, especially "Paaon padun tore shyam", "Brij mein laut chalo" and "Ghazab kiya tere vaade pe aitbaar kiya".

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