MUMBAI: Veteran composer Khayyam, best known for his music in classics such as “Umrao Jaan” and “Kabhi Kabhie”, was buried with full state honours on Tuesday.
The composer died in a hospital here on Monday after a prolonged illness. He was 92.
His mortal remains were kept at his Juhu residence for fans and friends to pay their last respects. Mumbai Police stood on guard as his body was draped in the tricolour and the cortege taken to the Four Bungalows graveyard, about three kilometres away.
At the graveyard, the late composer was given a three-gun salute by police personnel in the presence of his family and members of the film fraternity.
Those gathered to bid him adieu included prominent personalities such as writers Gulzar and Javed Akhtar, filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, singers Sonu Nigam, Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik, composers Jatin-Lalit, ghazal singer Talat Aziz and actor Poonam Dhillon.
With Khayyam passing away, the last symbol of an era has “indeed gone away”, said Akhtar.
“His body of work, as compared to other music composers might be less, but his songs from even unsuccessful films are remembered today after 40-50 years. Today, we forget hit songs of successful films in 15 days.
“His tunes, singer’s voice and lyrics are respected a lot. You could hear the voice, understand lyrics and the tunes were exceptional. This combination of all three has gone with him,” Akhtar told reporters. (AGENCIES)
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