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Playback queen Asha Bhosle released Khayyam:The Man, His Music, an anthology of the veteran composer’s lifetime work at a glittering function in Mumbai. Researched, edited and compiled by Vishwas Nerurkar and Bishwanath Chatterjee, this marks the ninth book in a series which have systematically documented the musical output of such legends like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar and immortal composers like Naushad, Shankar-Jaikishan, R.D. Burman, O.P. Nayyar and Sudhir Phadke.
The veteran composer along with his wife Jagjit Kaur and son Pradeep were present at the function together with a band of admirers on stage, including Pakistan ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali and ace photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha.


Scanning through the book, one realises that out of the 624 compositions (both film and non-film) spanning 59 years, Asha Bhosle has lent her voice to 111 of them. In a warm, affectionate speech, liberally spiced with funny anecodotes, Asha recalled their first meeting in Borivali in 1947 when Khayyam-Sahab mistook her to be a housemaid to more recent times of Umrao Jaan and the yet-to-be released Yatra - The Journey by Gautam Ghosh which reunites the magical national award-winning trio of Khayyam, Asha and Rekha.
Ghulam Ali, who made a special trip across the border for this occasion, paid rich tributes to the composer and mentioned Khayyam’s great contribution to the world of modern ghazals. Khayyam’s wife Jagjit Kaur, a renowned playback singer in her own right, was for once sharing the limelight with her husband. For years, at the cost of her own career, she has been a silent partner encouraging her husband in his compositions.
In his address, the master composer paid compliments to all those who had been responsible for making him a composer, from Pandit Husnlal and Pandit Bhagatram to every poet, director and singer who had made his tunes timeless hits. In a telling comment he said:”Considering that I was so choosy, my work output has been limited, yet never has my family ever complained about the paucity of wealth that flowed into the house, restricting their life of ease and luxury.” He repeatedly expressed his gratitude for the enthusiasm exhibited by editors Vishwas Nerurkar and Bishwanath Chatterjee, who succeeded in unearthing every single composition of his over the last six decades.

The inauguration programme, whose highlight was the launch of the 242-page volume, was sponsored and arranged by Prasad Mahadkar of Jeevangani and was a scintillating experience. The book was released amidst a shower of petals, leaving all the stage personalities with floral confetti.
A collector’s item, the book will serve as an ultimate reference book for Khayyam’s body of work. Many of his compositions, it must be noted, were private songs rendered by such sterling singers like Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh, Asha Bhosle, Talat Mehmood, C.H. Atma, Mahendra Kapoor and Begum Akhtar.
Yet another sparkling feature in this compilation is his painstaking efforts at maintaining aesthetically high publishing standards. Nerurkar thanked the guests for gracing the occasion and all the people who had contributed to make this book possible.


The photographs in this anthology are especially noteworthy. Historic and rare pictures spanning Khayyam’s life alternate with specially shot portraits of the composer and his family by lensman Gautam Rajadhyaksha. The letter, while addressing the audience, remarked that as Khayyam has an unending khazana of rare raags and as Asha Bhosle is keen to record some chronicle/ classical music, the two should collaborate together for another award-winning all-time hit album that will preserve the world of classical music for the future generation.


Alka Yagnik, Bhupendra and Mitali Singh, Talat Aziz, Ashok Sharma, Zarin Daruwala-Sharma, Ahmed Wasi, Maya Govind and arranger Enoch Daniels were the other dignitaries to have graced the book release function. A musical progrramme, tracking the musical journey of Khayyam, was also presented in a fitting tribute to ‘‘the man and his music.’’

Thanx Priyz

Why can't they give big pix on the net!!!!

That is coz they are all killjoys Agar bada daal diya ek copyright ka chhap laga dete hai zaalim kahin ke

Thanks for the post Priya! I need this book --- Kuchh ata pata bataao kahaan se milegi? Kesey milegi?

Just saw this, Inaam. Since it is a VN book, U can contact him.
Yeh lo add:
Vishwas Nerurkar
2/15 Kailash Parwat
Gilbert Hill
Near Bhawan's College
Andheri (W)
Mumbai-400 058
Phone : 624 3587
Email: nerurkar@bol.net.in

If there are problems posting to Pakistan, I can get it for U and mail U.

Priya,
Thanks for posting the article. Surprised that he only had 624 songs
in all over a long span. I guess thats price for being choosy and
being part of legendary era of HFM.

Ramesh

And despite that relatively small output he is well loved and respected. One of my fav mds. Saw an interview of his once on Zee Cinema. Came across as a very nice simple person and also someone well read and well informed.

He has come up with his site also

http://vishwasnerurkar.com/


Khaiyyam saab ke baare main jo kahaa jaaye kam hai....a very down to earth man.
A punjabi to the core.

I agree. I saw him in a lata vedio. Very humble and down to earth person.

Million thanks Maheshji, for the link. So many Asha pix!!!!!

Thanks Priya for the address of VN (I am sending him an eamil) and Mahesh Ji for the wonderful link.
Khayyam is my fav too I have a video clip where he is talking about Noor Jehan He is also a great admirer of Madam

Ul karo na Inaam, Madam forum par.

I sometimes feel Khayyam and Khurshid Anwar are rather similar mds.

To my knowledge, Priya, before partition, when Khurshid Anwar joined All India Radio and was working as the Head of classical music department, Khayam and Roshan were his assistants.

He got training from Pandit Amarnath and was assistant to bulo c rani and pandit husnlal bhagatram.

In Lahore, he also assisted G A Chishti for six months. Sang a song in the movie Romeo and Juliet (1947) when he was assistant to pandit husnlal bhagatram, who scored music for R and J.