Indian music director and background score composer Mohammed Zahur Khayyam Hashmi, better known by his nickname Khayyam, passed away on Monday. The 92-year-old veteran had been hospitalized in Sujoy Hospital, Juhu after collapsing due to infection in the lungs. With a career span of over four decades (1953-1990), Khayyam was known to have carved a niche for himself and was respected in the industry. His best-known compositions were for the movie Umrao Jaan and Kabhi Kabhi.

Confirming the news Ghazal singer Talat Aziz said, "He passed away at 9:30 pm of cardiac arrest, but the factors were bilateral lung infection and he fought bravely for more than 21 days. I am at the hospital right now." Condolences soon started pouring in and many celebrities tweeted about the sad news. It was on his 89th birthday that Khayyam had announced a charitable trust that would donate his entire wealth to support budding artists and technicians in India. The trust was named Khayyam Jagjeet Kaur KPG Charitable Trust. Throwing light on the same and expressing grief, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted how he will 'be remembered for his humanitarian gestures to support upcoming artists.'

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019