The well-known name in the Ghazal world, Pakistani Ghazal singer Mehdi Hassan has died of multiple organ failure at the age of 84. The ghazal singer was highly popular in India as well.

It is said in reports that Mehdi Hassan was admitted to the Agha Khan Hospital in the southern port city of Karachi a few days ago. Further reports said that millions of his fans gathered at the hospital after his death.

Mehdi Hassan started his Ghazal singing career around 50 years ago, and he was known as ‘king of ghazal’. Ghazal are the type of music which is popular in South Asia and in Middle East, and it expresses sadness and love. The music is more than 400 years old.

The melody queen of India, Lata Mangeshkar once likened his songs to the “voice of god”.

Mehdi Hassan was born in family of traditional musicians in 1927 at Luna village in India’s Rajasthan state. However, his family migrated to Pakistan in 1947.

Bollywood is very sad on the death of Pakistan Ghazal Singer Mehdi Hassan.

Abida Parveen: Extremely sad news, feeling like I’ve lost my elder brother. Mehdi always remained dedicated to ghazal singing.

@AnupamPkher: Very saddened to hear about my fav Gazal Singer Mehdi Hassan’s demise. As a student had gate crashed into Pak Embassy to listen to him. RIP.

@mbhandarkar268: Emperor of ghazals no more… R.I.P Mehdi Hassan… You will be missed sorely!

@BajpayeeManoj: Ghazal king one of my favourites mehandi saab passed away.may his soul rest in peace!

@shreyaghoshal: Mehdi Hassan sa’ab is no more. The voice, who made mny music lovers n lovers to find an expression of their heart’s stories, is gone. R.I.P.

Saddened beyond comprehension. Jagjit ji, now Mehdi Sa’ab. The voices who kept the legacy of ghazals alive and how, are gone..This void can never be filled ever again.