Mehdi Hassan is the world-famous ghazal singer of the subcontinent. Pakistanis are celebrating his 93rd birthday today.

Mehdi Hassan was born in India on July 18, 1927. He sang for 441 films. Mehdi Hassan sang for films continuously for 28 years. His mastery of ghazal singing was his specialty.

Mehndi Hassan had a special command in ghazal singing, that is why he is called the emperor of ghazals. His ghazals are listened to not only in Pakistan but wherever Urdu is present, it is listened to with interest.

Mehdi Hassan started his artistic career in Radio Pakistan from Karachi in 1957. He became famous for his ghazal sung in the film ‘Farangi’ released in 1962.

Listening to his song ‘Zindagi Mein To Sabhi Pyaar Kiya Hain’, Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar had said that God speaks in Mehdi Hassan’s throat.

Mehdi Hassan sang more than 25,000 film and non-film songs and lyrics. He was also awarded medals by the government such as Tamgha Imtiaz, Sitara Imtiaz and Pride of Performance.

He also sang many popular songs which became very popular among the fans. Ghazal emperor Mehdi Hassan Khan had given up singing due to respiratory problems and remained ill for a long time. However, on June 13, 2012, 84-year-old passed away at a private hospital in Karachi.