Musical memories

Mohammed Zahur ‘Khayyam’ Hashmi, better known by his screen name Khayyam, passed away on August 19 at a Mumbai hospital due to cardiac arrest. He had a long and illustrious career, spanning from the late ’40s to the 2000s. He was born in Nawanshahr district of Punjab. Even as a child, he was more interested in films than studies. He’d often bunk school to watch films. Such was his obsession with films that he ran away to his uncle’s house in Delhi to become an actor. Music and singing were an integral part of films. Perhaps to distract him from acting, his uncle allowed him to learn music. Young Khayyam started learning music under