Shahid K Abbas
New Delhi, Feb 18 (.) The strains of a Khayyam composition have a way of lingering gently yet profound, understated yet unforgettable. As the music world pauses to remember Mohammed Zahur Khayyam Hashmi, affectionately known as Khayyam, it recalls not merely a composer of songs but a visionary who transformed the soundscape of Hindi cinema.
Born on February 18, 1927, Khayyam’s journey into music was shaped by discipline, devotion and an instinctive understanding of melody. At a time when film music was increasingly leaning toward grand orchestration, he chose subtlety. His compositions were marked by poetic depth, sparse arrangements and an abiding respect for lyrics — a rarity that gave his songs a timeless grace.
Khayyam’s music found a special place in films that demanded emotional refinement. In Kabhi Kabhie, he turned Sahir Ludhianvi’s poetry into immortal melodies, creating a soundtrack that remains etched in collective memory. With Noorie, he captured youthful longing through haunting tunes set against the beauty of Kashmir. In Bazaar, his compositions echoed the pain and dignity of unfulfilled dreams, while earlier works like Footpath showcased his early promise and sensitivity.
But perhaps his most distinctive contribution lay in revolutionizing the rendering of devotional and semi-classical songs in mainstream cinema. Khayyam brought purity and classical rigour to film bhajans and ghazals without sacrificing accessibility. “Music must respect silence,” he once said in an interview, reflecting on his belief that restraint often speaks louder than excess.
Colleagues frequently described him as a composer who composed “from the soul.” Veteran playback singers recalled how he would rehearse a single line repeatedly until it carried the precise emotion he envisioned. “Khayyam sahib demanded honesty in every note,” a contemporary singer once remarked. “He believed music was not about display, but about truth.”
His immense contribution to Indian music was formally recognized when he was honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2007 and later conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2011 — tributes befitting a maestro whose art transcended generations.
Even beyond awards and accolades, Khayyam’s legacy rests in the quiet endurance of his songs. They are played at intimate gatherings, hummed on solitary evenings, and rediscovered by younger listeners seeking depth in an era of speed. His melodies do not age; they mature.
In remembering Khayyam, we celebrate not just a composer, but a custodian of melody — a man who proved that innovation need not be loud, and that simplicity, when guided by sincerity, can create eternity. . SKA .
