Mehdi Hassan: A Profile in Excellence

Lata Mangeshkar's highly laudatory remarks:" Mehdi Hasan kay galay mein
bhagwan bolta hai", in the early seventies, had hardly surprised an average
Pakistani, because they know the greatness of their most prominent play-back
singer.

Mehdi Hasan's illustrious singing career began with this ghazal: "Meray
khayal-0- khwab ki duniya liye huway":(Film: Shikaar: 1962, lyrics: Hafeez
Jallundhar, composer: Asghar Ali Mohammed Husain, film director: Rafiq
Anwar.

Mehdi's magnificent, magical, masterpieces have refused to age with the
passage of time.
Let us look at some of them:

"Duniya kisi kay pyar mein": (film: "Jag utha insaan": 1966)
"Mujhay tum nazar say gira tau rahay ho" (film: "Doraha": 1967)
"Ik naye maur pay lay Aaye hain": (film: "Ehsaan": 1967)
"Ye kaghazi phool jaisay chehray": (film: "Dewar bhabi": 1967)
"Tark-e-ulfat ka sila": (film:"Dil mera dharkan teri": 1968)
"Ye wafaon ka diya Aap nay": (film: "Phir chand niklay ga": 1970)
"Khamosh hain nazaray" (film: "Bandagi": 1972)
"Ga meray diwanay dil" (film: "Daulat aur duniya": 1972)


It is almost impossible to single out the best song from the long list of
Mehdi's super-hits. However, Radio Pakistan's renowned announcer, Azim
Sarwar, had relegated "Elahi Aansoo bhari zindagi kisi ko na day" as the
number one song of Mehdi Hasan, in the mid - eighties .

Moreover, in an interview to Radio Pakistan's compere, Taj Bakht, which was
broadcast twice between 1985-87, Mehdi Hasan had dealt, at length, his
continuous efforts to bring quality in the songs and ghazals.

From the melancholy strains of "Aye duniya kya tujh say kahein", "Tanha thee
aur hamaysha say tanha hai zindagi", "Qissa-e-gham mein tera naam", "Dil
diya dard liya", "Zindagi aik safar hai", to satires like "Laga hai misar ka
bazaar deikho" (Tehzeeb)

Likewise, from the romantic scores like "Meray dil kay taar", "Teray bheegay
badan ki khushbu say"(Sharafat), to moralistic numbers like "Sau baras ki
zindigi mein aik pul" (Insaaf aur qanoon), Mehdi's superb art is evident
everywhere.

A few evergreen songs of Mehdi are listed here:

"Khuda wanda ye kaisi Aag see": (film: "Lori", lyrics: Himayat Ali Shair")
"Mein hoon yahan, tu hai wahan": (film: "Gharnata")
"Raqs zanjeer pehan kar bhi kiya jata hai: (film: "Zarqa")
"Zindigi ja, chore day peecha mera": (film: "Jawab dau")
"Tum zid tau kar rahay ho": (film: "Daagh")
"Bohoth yaad Aayein gay wo din"(film: "Anila")
"Jab bhi chahein ik naye soorath bana" (film: "Saza")
"Duniya ko ab kya sumjhain" (film: "Baazi")
"Yoon zindigi ki raah mein"(film:"Aag")
"Shikwa na kar, gila na kar" (film:"Zameen")
"Nazaroan nay bhari Aahein" (film:"Naghma-e-Sehra")
"Kiun poochtay ho kiya tum say kahein"(film:"Bahisht")

Mehdi"s contribution towards ghazal singing is immense and it will never be
forgotten by the ghazal-lovers.
Some of the memorable ghazals sung by him are:

"Charagh-e-toor jalao"
"Ranjish he sahi"
"Ghuncha-e-shauq laga hai"
"Deikh tau dil keh jaan say"

The national songs, sung by Mehdi, like "Allah kay waday pay mujahid ko
yaqeen hai" and "Sohni dharti Allah rakhay" will always be remembered.

Mehdi's fame has reached around the globe in the past thirty eight years and
his unparalleled voice will continue to capture the hearts and minds of his
innumerable fans well into this century.

Filmi Songs

Song: Dile-e-weeran hai teri yaad hai tanhaai hai

Song: Dunia kissi ke pyaar mein jannat se kum nahein

Mehdi Hassan was born in a musician family in Rajhistan, India. He is more famous for Ghazal-singing and is called as "The King of Ghazal´s", but actually he was the most successful playback singer in Pakistani Urdu films. His first film was "Shikar" in 1956, but he got very tough competition especially against Salim Raza in the beginning of his film career. He struggled for almost a decade but Film "Farangi" (1964) was a milestone for Mehdi Hassan, when his Ghazal "Gullon mein rang bhare..." became a "Street song". He was on the top of his career in the 70s....

First film:
"Shikaar" (1956)
First hit film song:
"Jis ne mere dil ko dard diya"
(Film "Susraal" (1962)
Got breakthrogh:
"Gullon mein rang bhare..."
(Film "Farangi" (1964)

I simply love all his songs / ghazals.... aise tau kehte hai ki umeed kum hai but hey what miracle can happen anytime..... khuda unko jaldi theek kar de and maybe we can hear him once again .....

Those who thinks he is a slow , classical , high urdu ghazal singer , etc etc should must hear .... Tere bighe badan ki kushboo se...lehre bhi hui diwaani...


tere bheege badan ki khooshboo se
lehre bhi huyee mastaani si
teri zulf ko chookar aaj huyee
khaamosh hawa diwaani si

ye roop ka kundan dehka hua
ye zism ka chandan mehka hua
ilzaam na dena fir muJhko
ho jaaye agar naadani si

bikhra hua kaajal aankhoN meiN
toofaan ki halchal saansoN meiN
ye narM laboN ki khamoshi
palko meiN chupi hairaani si


Any idea who is the female voice that humming in the song ? .....

Here is the most lovely most romantic song, Tere Bhige Badan Ki Kushboo Se....

Enjoy

I am gonna keep this TOPIC alive and so decided will post kuch na kuch whenever times permits , here is some interesting info on Mehndi Ji

To make ends meet Mehdi started working in a bicycle shop and later became a car and diesel tractor mechanic. Despite the hardships, his passion for music didn’t wither and he kept up the routine of practice on a daily basis. His struggle ended when he was given the opportunity to sing on radio in 1952, primarily as a thumri singer, this got him recognition within the musical fraternity. At that time, Ustad Barkat Ali Khan, Begum Akhtar and Mukhtar Begum were considered the stalwarts of ghazal gayaki, Mehdi Hassan also had a passion for Urdu poetry and started to experiment by singing ghazals on a part time basis. He cites radio officers Z.A. Bukhari and Rafiq Anwar as additional influences in his progression as a ghazal singer. They gave him ample opportunities to display his mastery over the ghazal on radio. He sang ghazals of all the renowned Urdu poets and soon his innovative style was soon appreciated by both the masses and discerning audiences.

Now his excellence from one of my fav poet "Qateel Shifai"


zindagi meiN to sabhi pyaar kiya karte hain
main to mar ke bhi meri jaan tujhe chahoonga

tu mila hai to ehsaas hua hai mujhko
ye meri umr mohabbat ke liye thodi hai
ik zara saagame daura ka bhi haq hai jispar
maine wo saans bhi tere liye rakh chodi hai
tujhpe ho jaaoonga qurbaan tujhe chaoonga
main to mar ke bhi meri jaan tujhe chahoonga

apne jazbaat meiN nagmaat rachaane ke liye
maine dhadkan ki tarah dil meiN basaya hai tujhe
main tasavoor bhi judaai ka bhala kaise karooN
maine kimsat ki lakiron se churaaya hai tujhe
pyaar ka ban ke nigehbaan tujhe chahoonga
main to mar ke bhi meri jaan tujhe chahoonga

BJ:

Great number. Lovely lyrics. Had U/L'd another version in SKS.

U/L: "Jal bhi chookay parwaaney" (Mehdi Hassan / Non-film)

Jal Bhi Chuke Paravaane Ho Bhi Chuki Rusvaai By "Shehzad Ahmed " excellently sung by Mehdi Sahab Khuda unko jaldi theek kar de


Jal Bhi Chuke Paravaane Ho Bhi Chuki Rusvaai
Ab Khaak Udaane Ko Baithe Hain Tamaashaai
Taaron Ki Ziyaa Dil Men Ik Aag Lagaati Hai
Aaraam Se Raaton Ko Sote Nahin Saudaai

Raaton Ki Udaasi Men Khaamosh Hai Dil Meraa
Behis Hain Tamannaayen Nind Aai Ki Maut Aai

Ab Dil Ko Kisi Karavat Aaraam Nahin Milataa
Ik Umr Kaa Ronaa Hai Do Din Ki Shanaasaai
Ik Shaam Vo Aaye The Ik Raat Farozaan Thi
Vo Shaam Nahin Lauti Vo Raat Nahin Aai

[Ziyaa=Light/Brilliance , Farozaan=Lit-Up , Behis=In A Stupor ]

Can you believe ? Its the famous classical / ghazal singer ... with such a catchy romantic tune from movie Bandish ... Must listen ... to know what I am talking about...

PS :This is Akhlaq Ahmed's famous number SONA NA CHANDI NA MAHAL....

(Its not Do Pyase Dil)

Guys

I'm so glad to see you all here posting on my all time favorite singer - Mehdi Hassan Saaheb. I wish that he can resume his singing - anyone knows how he is doing nowadays?

No one in the history of ghazal singing even comes close to his singing. He truly is the king of ghazal.

OK, so much for adulations and my fanatic eulogies. I recently bought a CD of his which had a song that I liked a lot..I think it's a film song but don't know from which one! Hear it yourself.

I have so many albums of Mehdi hasan and I have heard them so many times yet I can't get enough of him. I am still and always looking for some of his relatively unknown albums that may have songs only released in pakistan and never made it to abroad market.

Another one of my favorites here- in this one, he sings with Salma Agha. Let me know if anyone would like any song by him -I'd be glad to post it here if I have it.

Can I request you guys to post songs in high bit rates? I never post anything in less than 128kbps and most of the time in 192kbps. Unni also pointed out in another forum thatn since not many folks here download these songs, it is probably a good idea to post them in good quality for everyone's benefit.

BJ

Acronymizing your name up there I am reminded of the wholesale store near my apartment here. lol.

You are absolutely right about this pair - they gel with each other so well that the ghazals achieve an ethereal quality. Besides Chehrey from which these songs are taken, is there another album on which they sung together?

I'd love to hear other duets if there are any. And please no low 96 kbps rips. Let's have some standard.

There is another one of MH that I like a lot which I am sure you've heard but it's here anyway for others -- Pyar bhare do sharmile nain..

Nope that is the only album she had with Mehdi Sahab....

A lovely romantic film song

I received my 5 CD set of "Legends" (live)* by Mehdi Hassan saaheb. Let me know if anyone would like any song from it. I guess the listing should be available somewhere on the web.
Nadeem bhai, I checked in it and it does n't have that ghazal you wanted. Sorry! Let me know if you need another.

anurag

*edited album name 07/15

another good geet by Mehdi hasan saaheb... here

Bawra Jay, this song is NOT in Mehdi hasan voice!!!!
Mehdi Hasan & Mehnaz - Do Piyase Dil Ek Hue Hain

Gali mein aaj chand nikla....tum aaye to aaya muje yad

Mehandi Hasan :

Ek bar chale aao

Heer by Mehdi Hasan

Nadeem, here for you from kehna usey..

BJ, I have put your request for winLAME to process for reducing bit rate so that the file size gets below 15 MB (yes, it's a very long song - about 20 minutes of pure joy!) but I think my 1.8 GHz P4 will take about 40 minutes to convert it into a reduced bit rate. Damn! I was better off locating my CD and ripping again but I am too lazy to look for it in the chaos that I call my room.

Also, let me know which album the ghazal Teer Nainon Ka Zalim is from?

anurag

PS: BTW, why are we adding Mehdi Hasan song in this section when there is another thread dedicated to him? Can we move all these discussions to that thread?

Bawara jee, aapkee ghazal....

Very informative - a profile on the legend taken from
http://www.getpakistan.com/Entertainment/P.../MehdiHasan.htm

*I removed the content of this article. Please follow the link to read it.

Mehdi Hasan :

Thumri in Raga Desh

Mehdi Hasan : Dekh to dilki jan se uthta hai..ye dhuan kahans se uthta hai

One of the best of Mehdi Hasan

Shuklas

Mehndi Hasan : Ranjish hi sahi

Mehndi Hasan : Bahot yada ayenge

Mehndi Hasan : Aaj Tak yad hai woh

Mehndi Hasan : Mohabatt karnewale

Mehndi Hasan : Zindgee mein to sabhi pyar kiya karte

From film 'Salaam-e-Mohabbat', Music by Rashid Attre

Lovely romantic song from film 'Ambar' Music by Robin Ghosh

Mehandi Hasan : Ched na hum

John, can you please post ghazals in at least 128 kbps, if it's not much trouble? It seems 128 kbps is a fair compromise between CD quality audio (192 kbps) and poor quality 96 kbps mp3s.

Thanks.

anurag