Legendary music composer Mohammed Zahur 'Khayyam' Hashmi, known for evergreen soundtracks for Hindi films like Kabhie Kabhie and Umrao Jaan, passed away at the age of 92 in a Mumbai hospital on Monday, 19 August. He had been in the ICU for a lung infection since 4 August.
Composer Salim Merchant confirmed the news on Twitter, writing, “The Legend Khayyam saab passed away this eve at 9.28 pm. What a huge loss to the Music & Film world. I was by his side all day today with @TalatAziz2 bhai & Bina Aziz. May Allah bless his Soul. Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un”
Khayyam was a recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and Padma Bhushan. The veteran composer, lyricist and writer started his music career in Ludhiana in 1943 at the age of 17. In 1981, he composed music for Umrao Jaan, ranked among the all time best Bollywood films and considered the jewel in the crown of Khayyam's compositions, for which he bagged the National Award, and also a Filmfare Award, besides a string of other honours.
In 2016, Khayyam and his singer-wife Jagjit Kaur set up the 'Khayyam-Jagjit Kaur KPG Charitable Trust', and donated their entire wealth to be utilised to fund upcoming artistes and technicians in Bollywood.
Condolences have started pouring in from the industry. Lata Mangeshkar took to Twitter to write that Khayyam treated her like his younger sister.
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