Ghazal fans bid adieu to a legend

Jun 14, 2012 - Priyanka Bhadani

The demise of Ghazal maestro Mehdi Hassan on Wednesday saddened his fans. The music fraternity mourned the death of the iconic figure who gave ghazal singing a new definition with his own style.

Singer Lata Mangeshkar, wrote on Twitter, “aaj bohot bade ghazal gayak kalaakar mehedi hassan sahab hamare bich nahi rahe,mujhe is baat bohot dukh hai,gazal gaayki ke kshetra mein unhone bohot bada parivartan laaya,aaj gazal unke jaane se ghazal ki bohot nadi haani hui hai, ab un jaisa kalakar phir se aana mushkil hai,wo bohot bade shastriya sangeet ke gayak bhi the,aur unke gaane me rajasthan ke sangeet ki khushboo bhi thi”...
Rakesh Gupta, founder of NGO Routes 2 Roots that works with artistes in India and Pakistan, recalls a 2004 concert which they organised in honour of Mehdi Hassan. “Mehdi saab sent a video message wherein he said that he would love to perform in India, ‘Even though it may be my last live performance. But I regret I’ll be unable to come to India due to my illness. But I pray my son Asif Mehdi will entertain you in Delhi’,” shares Gupta who thinks his death is a big blow for all.
Singer Shubha Mudgal, who has been a great admirer of the legend, believes he hasn’t got his due. “I was watching people talk about Mehdi saab on TV and indeed that is what should happen as he is an iconic figure. I’m wondering shouldn’t we have done this when he was still around? Mehdi saab will be alive through his songs, but it saddens me that I cannot recall seeing a Mehdi saab ghazal on TV in the last 10 years. The popularity of ghazal has declined. Perhaps, it’s time now that we listen to more ghazals as a tribute to the master of ghazals,” concludes Mudgal.

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