National award winning music composer Mohammed Zahir Hashmi, better known as Khayyam, passed away on Monday night in a Mumbai hospital following a brief illness.

He was 92.

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Khayyam was admitted to the Sujoy Hospital in Juhu last week for a lung infection, said his spokesperson Pritam Sharma.

Khyayam had a prolific career that spanned over four decades which saw the likes of music from Kabhie Kabhie, Trishul, and Umrao Jaan getting composed and applauded.

He also composed music for Meena Kumari’s album, “I Write, I Recite” featuring her singing her own poetic compositions.

Khayyam learnt music at an early age under the mentorship of Baba Chishti, a famous Punjabi music director. After a short stint in the army during the Second World War, Khayyam went to Bombay to fulfill his dream, debuting as Sharmaji of the Sharmaji-Varmaji composer duo with Heer Ranjha in 1948.

He was honoured with the National Award, and a Filmfare Award, besides several other accolades for his compositions and contributions to the field of Hindi film music. In 2011, he was also awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India.

Khayyam’s non-film songs are equally loved by his fans, especially “Paaon padun tore shyam”, “Brij mein laut chalo” and “Ghazab kiya tere vaade pe aitbaar kiya”.

Prominent personalities from India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Ram Nath Kovind and veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar celebrated the legend’s spirit and paid tributes to him.

India will remain grateful to Khayyam Sahab for giving us some of the most memorable compositions, which will be remembered forever. He will also be remembered for his humanitarian gestures to support upcoming artists. His demise is extremely saddening.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 19, 2019

Saddened to learn of the passing of Khayyam Sahab. A legendary music composer, his music brought joy to millions. Khayyam Sahab will always be remembered for his compositions. My condolences to his family and well-wishers #PresidentKovind

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 20, 2019

#KhayyamSaab will always be remembered for his superb talent in music and for his contributions in Hindi films. May God bless him with a place in his holy feet! https://t.co/nF4DGxodQ1

— Adv. Somnath Bharti (@attorneybharti) August 20, 2019

Alvida Khayyam saab. https://t.co/x1bqRJaEh0

Your music, like all great music, helped us make sense of this unexplainable universe and our desperate lives. Shukriya.

— वरुण (@varungrover) August 19, 2019

Khayyam saheb the great music director has passed away . He has given many all time great song but to make him immortal only one was enough “ voh subah kabhi to aayehi “

— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) August 19, 2019

He is survived by his singer wife Jagjit Kaur.