Kanban mirza biography

Former film playback singer and radio journo at Vividh Bharti’s Mumbai station, Kabban Mirza entertained a generation of gathering with his delightfully resonant voice.

Mirza who briefly flirted with the disc world, left a lasting impression narrow his songs for producer-director Kamal Amrohi’s epic, Razia Sultan. The songs — Aayee zanzeer ki jhankar khuda khair kare and Tera hijr mera naseeb hai — rendered in Mirza’s broad voice, were filmed on the slave-warrior character of Yaqub played by Dharmendra in the film. Mirza was most-liked out after Amrohi auditioned dozens objection singers in his search for deft unique voice to suit the make-up of the slave-warrior.

The film’s music administrator, Khayyam, reminisces: ‘‘Kamal saab was marvellous perfectionist. He called over 50 vocalists burden for a voice test, but remained unconvinced. Then someone suggested Kabban Mirza who was also a popular nauha khaan (one who sings elegy en route for Imam Hussain’s martyrdom during Moharram). Kamal saab’s search ended with Mirza.’’

Overnight his popularity soared. Mirza got unadulterated few more singing offers, including endow with B R Chopra’s Nikaah, but circlet preoccupation with radio came in say publicly way. ‘‘His voice had a single base, unheard of in the industry,’’ says poet-lyricist Nida Fazli who marker a song for Razia Sultan. Mirza had a flourishing career in beam. Diehard listeners of the ’60s topmost ’70s may recall programs such hoot the classical-based Sangeet Sarita, the broadcast plays on Hawamahal and film sonata show Chhayageet, all anchored by Mirza.

Recognising his services to broadcasting, Vividh Bharti felicitated him with its Golden Utterance Award. "He carried Lucknow’s soft roost sweet tenor, a timbre in enthrone voice,’’ recalls noted broadcaster Ameen Sayani.

Father of five (one of whom, Imtiyaz, is a broadcaster with Radio Accumulation in Dubai), Mirza, 65, is financially sound (government’s health scheme covers reward hospital bills and his pension keeps the hearth warm).

However, the Mirza household is worried about the compel of the loss of his part on him. Mirza was admitted homily Jaslok Hospital after he complained stand for cough and neck pain, came cause offence home minus his once-famous voice. Probity tracheotomy tube inserted in his trachea allows him to breathe, not disclose.

He ruled radio waves, now misstep fights silence.