Published from Mumbai, Delhi & Bhopal

Music maestro Khayyam conferred Hridaynath Award for Lifetime Achievement

Renowned National Award winning music director Mohammed Zahur Khayyam Hashmi, better known as “Khayyam”, was conferred this year’s prestigious Hridaynath Award for Lifetime Achievement late on Friday night here.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis gave away the award, comprising a cash prize of Rs.100,000 and a memento, named after the famous Hridaynath Mangeshkar on his 81st birthday on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, Fadnavis recalled Khayyam’s great contributions to the music world since the launch of his musical career from the age of 17 at Ludhiana in 1943.

“Khayyamji is a 92-year-young man. Presenting this award to him is indeed an honour for me,” said the 48-year old Fadnavis.

Lauding the role of the Mangeshkar family for their music legacy which was as tall as the Himalayas, Fadnavis said they are “a gift to the country”, and listening to their music is itself a “divine experience.”

Terming Khayyam as his inspiration’, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, praised his musical creations and said that “conferring the award named after me on him, is actually a reward for me.”

“Hridaynath is the only and youngest brother of the legendary Mangeshkar singer-sisters – Lata, Asha, Usha and Meena, all children of the great composer the late Master Deenanath Mangeshkar,” said Avinath Prabhavalkar, an official of the Hridayesh Arts.

Responding to the felicitations, Khayyam said the Mangeshkar family has made a significant contribution to the cause of music in the country and he felt humbled by the honour.

Present at the ceremony in Deenanath Mangeshkar Hall, Vile Parle, were several eminent personalities like Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Jabbar Patel, members of the Mangeshkar clan and celebrities.

The veteran composer, lyricist and writer Khayyam, 92, started his music career in Ludhiana in 1943 at the age of 17. Later, the Padma Bhushan awardee teamed up as Sharma of the music-director duo “Sharmaji-Varmaji” to compose music for films like “Heer Ranjha” (1948) and others.

Hindi Website