Khayyam

Mohammed Zahur Khayyam Hashmi, widely known as Khayyam, was born on 18 February 1927 in Rahon, Punjab (then part of British India). Even as a young boy, he displayed a passionate inclination toward music, running away to his uncle’s home in Delhi to pursue training under classical vocalist and composer Pandit Amarnath. At 17, he worked in Lahore as an assistant to music director Baba Chishti before serving briefly in the British Indian Army during World War II. After the war, he journeyed to Bombay (Mumbai), debuting in 1948 as “Sharmaji” of the Sharmaji-Vermaji duo with the film Heer Ranjha, later establishing himself as a solo composer after Partition. In the early stages of his career, Khayyam composed such enduring melodies as "Akele Mein Woh Ghabrate To Honge" (Biwi, 1950) and “Shaam-e-Gham Ki Kasam” (Footpath, 1953), the latter becoming a hauntingly evocative classic. His collaboration with poet Sahir Ludhianvi on Phir Subah Hogi (1958) yielded touching songs like “Wo Subha Kabhi To Aayegi.” Over the 1960s, works for films such as Shola Aur Shabnam (1961) and Aakhri Khat (1966, which marked Rajesh Khanna’s debut) cemented Khayyam’s reputation for soulful lyricism and refined orchestration. The 1970s and early ’80s marked Khayyam’s zenith, earning him widespread acclaim. His score for Yash Chopra’s Kabhi Kabhie (1976)—including beloved numbers like “Kabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein” and “Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shayar Hoon”—won him the Filmfare Best Music Director Award. He reached the pinnacle with Umrao Jaan (1981), a lyrical, ghazal-rich masterpiece that earned him both the Filmfare and National Film Awards for Best Music Direction; songs like “In Aankhon Ki Masti Ke” remain etched in musical memory. Subsequent works for films such as Noorie, Bazaar, Dil-E-Nadaan and Razia Sultan further showcased his versatility and depth. Khayyam was more than a composer—he was a craftsman who respected poetry, melody, and tradition in an industry often driven by trends. His adherence to classical roots, disciplined approach, and poetic sensibility distinguished him from his contemporaries and preserved ghazal and semi-classical essence in mainstream cinema. He was honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2007), a Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (2010), and the Padma Bhushan (2011). Personal life and legacy intertwine in his story. Married to singer Jagjit Kaur in 1954, one of Bollywood’s early inter-communal alliances, he remained deeply connected to her musically. They faced personal tragedy with the loss of their son Pradeep in 2012, inspiring them to establish the Khayyam Jagjit Kaur Charitable Trust, to aid struggling artists and technicians. Khayyam passed away on 19 August 2019 in Mumbai at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy of timeless music, poetic devotion, and generosity, remembered today as one of Bollywood’s last links to its golden musical heritage.