Remembering ghazal legend Mehdi Hassan, who breathed his last in Karachi on Wednesday He had the rare ability to deliver emotions

Aakar Patel (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 14, 2012)

 

Indian-born Ghazal legend Mehdi Hassan (born 1927) died on Wednesday following multiple organ failure at the age of 84. He was admitted to the Aga Khan Hospital in Karachi a few days ago. His condition deteriorated and the maestro was put on ventilator in his last days.

“My father passed away at 12:22 pm after a long battle against different ailments,” his son Arif Hassan said. Hundreds of fans gathered at the hospital on learning about the maestro’s death.

Hassan, famous for lending voice to evergreen numbers like Patta Patta Boota Boota and Kab Ke Bichhare, was born into a family of traditional musicians at Luna village in Rajasthan on July 18, 1927. The family migrated to Pakistan during Partition in 1947. To make ends meet, Mehdi worked in a bicycle shop and later became a car and tractor mechanic.

In 1957, Mehdi got his first break as a singer in Radio Pakistan. In late 1980s, he cut back on his performances following a serious illness.

Pakistan Prime Minister Gilani expressed grief and sorrow at the death of Hassan and said that Hassan was “an icon who mesmerised music lovers not only in Pakistan but also in the subcontinent for many decades.”

Hassan, who last performed in India in 2000, wanted to visit the country again, a dream that remained unfulfilled. According to reports, his son Arif had More >