Khayyam gets Padma Bhushan

New Delhi, Jan 25 (IANS) Veteran composer Khayyam, the man behind the soulful music in 'Kabhi kabhie nere dil mein' and 'Dil cheez kya hai', has been honoured with the Padma Bhushan, the nation's third highest civilian award, on the eve of the Republic Day.

Born Mohammed Zahur 'Khayyam' Hashmi in pre-independent Punjab, the 84-year-old worked in the Hindi film industry from 1953 to 1990 and scored music for more than 30 movies. He shot to fame with Raj Kapoor and Mala Sinha starrer 'Phir Subah Hogi' 1958 and later churned out hits like 'Aaja re o mere dilbar aaja' for 'Noorie' (1979), 'Aankhon mein humne aapke' for 'Thodi Si Bewafaai' (1980), 'Dikhai diye yun ki bekhud kiya' for 'Bazaar' (1982), 'Aye dile nadaan' and 'Jalta hai badan' for 'Razia Sultan' (1983).

He has won three Filmfare Awards for 'Kabhi Kabhie' (1977), 'Umrao Jaan' (1982) and a lifetime achievement in 2010. He was awarded the 2007 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Creative Music by India's national academy for music, dance and theatre.