There was a time when Mohammed Rafi's voice defined Hindi film music, and when that era came to an end, it was a young singer performing in a small Kolkata restaurant who stepped in to fill the void. This is the story of playback singer Mohammed Aziz, who gave Hindi cinema a fresh voice through the 1980s and 1990s.
Born in Kolkata, drawn to music since childhood
Mohammed Aziz was born on July 2, 1954, in Kolkata, West Bengal. His full name was Syed Mohammed Ajit Ul Nabi. He was fond of singing from childhood and would often hum tunes to himself. Mohammed Rafi was his favourite singer, and he would try to sing in a similar style after listening to Rafi's songs.
The Ghalib restaurant that changed everything
Mohammed Aziz's career began at the 'Ghalib' restaurant in Kolkata, where he used to perform live. His melodious voice left listeners spellbound, and many would tip him after being impressed by his performances. Slowly, he built a distinct identity at the restaurant. Around this time, several film producers began visiting the place, and one Bengali film producer noticed his voice. That producer offered him a chance to sing in a film, which turned out to be his first big break. Following this, Mohammed Aziz moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in music.
'Mard Tangewala' proved to be the turning point
After arriving in Mumbai, Mohammed Aziz worked hard to carve out a place for himself in the industry. By the 1980s, when Mohammed Rafi's era had come to an end, Bollywood was searching for a voice to fill the gap. Composer Anu Malik gave him that opportunity, and the 1985 film 'Mard' song 'Mard Tangewala' became the turning point of his life. The song became a super hit, and Mohammed Aziz became a star overnight. He never looked back after that.
Sang for top composers and biggest stars
Mohammed Aziz worked with leading composers such as Laxmikant Pyarelal, Anu Malik and Bappi Lahiri, delivering hit after hit. He lent his voice to major stars including Amitabh Bachchan, Govinda, Sunny Deol, Sanjay Dutt and Anil Kapoor. Some of his most popular songs include 'Aap Ke Aa Jaane Se', 'Ae Watan Tere Liye', 'Mera Naam Hai Lakhan', 'Main Teri Mohabbat Mein Pagal Ho Jaunga', 'Bahut Jataate Ho Chaah Hamse', 'Tera Bimar Mera Dil', 'Tu Mujhe Kubool', 'Aadmi Zindagi Aur Yeh Aatma' and 'Dil Diya Hai Jaan Bhi Denge'. He also sang for films such as 'Tridev', 'Chaalbaaz' and 'Khuda Gawah'.
Over 20,000 songs across languages
Mohammed Aziz did not limit himself to Hindi cinema alone. He also sang in Bengali and Odia films, recording more than 20,000 songs over the course of his career. These songs turned him into a star and gave the music world of the 1980s and 1990s a distinct identity of its own.
Passed away on November 27, 2018
Mohammed Aziz passed away on November 27, 2018, at the age of 64, following a heart attack. He was returning to Mumbai after a performance in Kolkata when he suddenly fell ill at the airport. He was immediately rushed to Nanavati Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
