A Legend Has Departed – Music Director Khayyam Is No more, Passes Away at 92

One of the best music directors B’Town had – Khayyam has passed away. He was a stalwart in every sense of the word. It is a pity that people talk and discuss the work, life and times of people who are deceased. It is indeed unfortunate that while they are living, no one is cared or is even bothered to speak of them! Legendary music composer Mohammed Zahur 'Khayyam' Hashmi is no more.

He breathed his last at Sujoy Hospital, Juhu, at 9:30 PM last night. One very pertinent point to be mentioned here is, today Amitabh Bachchan’s Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 11 saw its first episode. It started airing at 9 PM. It was in the episode that Mr Bachchan started reciting ‘Kabhie Kabhie Mere Dil Mein Khayal Ataa Hai” – a poem the Yash Chopra directorial Kabhie Kabhie with him in the lead and this song became one of the most famous songs that were composed by Khayyam Saab. Wonder whether it was anything celestial that just after half an hour, Khayyam Saab left us!

He was admitted there since last few days for age-related illness. In his last days, the music director/composer was suffering from various ailments. On July 28, 2019, Khayyam was hospitalized following a lung infection. And subsequently, his heart failed him. He was 92. The music director was the recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. His music graph included music of films that are remembered even to this day! From Umrao Jaan To Razia Sultan, from Bazaar to Kabhi Kabhie. Most of his films had a soulful touch to them which just cannot be replicated. His last rites will be carried out soon.

On his 92nd birth anniversary in February this year, Khayyam had donated Rs 5 lakh to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund towards relief efforts for the family members of those who died in the Pulwama terror attack. He had also decided to bequeath his life earnings (Rs 10 crore) to support the film industry's artists and technicians in need. "I'm glad to do my bit for all those unsung people who work behind the scenes. In many ways they're the real heroes of the industry," he had said.

Besides his forever memorable compositions like- In Aankhon Ki Masti Or Justuju Jiski Thi or Yeh Kya Jagah Hai Dosto, Aye Dil-e-Naadaan, Kabhie Kabhie, Hazaar Raahein Mudke Dekhi – all of which were steeped in an intense shade of melancholy, his other compositions like Gapuchi Gapuchi Gam Gam, ‘Jalta Hai Badan and others were equally loved and is still in the playlist of many of the true music lovers.

We at Desimartini.com pray that his soul may rest in peace!