Google is honoring the Legendary Pakistani Ghazal singer Mehndi Hassan with a doodle. Today marks his 91st birthday.
Mehdi Hassan was born on July 18, 1927, in the village of ‘Luna’ in Rajasthan India.
This isn’t the first time Google has honored a Pakistani through a doodle. Previously, the tech giant has honored renowned personalities of the country through a doodle including Abdul Sattar Edhi, Nazia Hassan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and more.
Mehdi Hassan’s story.
During the pre-partition era, Mehdi Hassan sang dhrupad and kheyal following the footsteps of his father and uncle. After the 1947 Indo-Pak partition, he and his family moved to Pakistan.
Mehdi Hassan’s first official music performance was recorded in 1957 on Radio Pakistan where he sang as a thumri singer. But later on became a ghazal singer and never looked back.
His first song was ‘Jab Koi Pyar Se Bulaye Ga, Tum Ko Ek Shaks Yaad Aye Ga’ in the film Susral in 1962. This song along with ‘Ik Husn Ki Devi Se Mujhe Pyar Hua Tha’ helped him become one of the most established ghazal singers of Pakistan.
From there on till 2010, Mehdi Hassan sang many playback songs and ghazals for Pakistani movies and released standalone singles. His last known single was a duet with India’s legendary Lata Mangeshkar ‘Sarhadein’ in 2010.
Mehndi Hassan has also been honored with many Pakistani accolades including Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, Nishan-e-Imtiaz, Pride of Performance, and Hilal-e-Imtiaz.
Mehdi Hassan passed away on the 13th of June, 2012 in Karachi, after suffering from an illness.
Mehdi Hassan’s timeless classics
Mehdi Hassan has produced numerous hits which are stilled listened to around the world. His timeless classics include ‘Jab koi pyar se bulayue ga, tum ko ek shakhs yaad ayega’, ‘ik husn ki devi se mujhe pyar hua tha’, ‘ranjish hi sahi dil hi dukhane k liye a’, ‘patta patta, boota boota’, ‘Dil-e-Nadan tujhe hua kya hai’, and ‘dil ki baat labon par laakar’.
Let’s listen to some of his best ghazals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebcwg8WrBDI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBgM7MdzTRo