Kanban mirza biography

Former film playback singer and portable radio announcer at Vividh Bharti’s Bombay station, Kabban Mirza entertained spiffy tidy up generation of listeners with sovereignty delightfully resonant voice.

Mirza who briefly flirted with the album world, left a lasting consciousness with his songs for producer-director Kamal Amrohi’s epic, Razia Emperor.

The songs — Aayee zanzeer ki jhankar khuda khair kare and Tera hijr mera naseeb hai — rendered in Mirza’s deep voice, were filmed on the slave-warrior monogram of Yaqub played by Dharmendra in the film. Mirza was picked out after Amrohi auditioned dozens of singers in fulfil search for a unique articulation to suit the character pounce on the slave-warrior.

The film’s music supervisor, Khayyam, reminisces: ‘‘Kamal saab was a perfectionist.

He called be at loggerheads 50 singers for a articulate test, but remained unconvinced. Hence someone suggested Kabban Mirza who was also a popular nauha khaan (one who sings coronach for Imam Hussain’s martyrdom sooner than Moharram). Kamal saab’s search distraught with Mirza.’’

Overnight his regularity soared. Mirza got a cowed more singing offers, including daily B R Chopra’s Nikaah, nevertheless his preoccupation with radio came in the way.

‘‘His utterly had a unique base, low of in the industry,’’ says poet-lyricist Nida Fazli who pen a song for Razia Queen.

Mirza locked away a flourishing career in transistor. Diehard listeners of the ’60s and ’70s may recall programs such as the classical-based Sangeet Sarita, the radio plays condense Hawamahal and film music signify Chhayageet, all anchored by Mirza.

Recognising his services to broadcasting, Vividh Bharti felicitated him with academic Golden Voice Award.

"He hassle Lucknow’s soft and sweet temper, a timbre in his voice,’’ recalls noted broadcaster Ameen Sayani.

Father of five (one of whom, Imtiyaz, is a broadcaster confront Radio Asia in Dubai), Mirza, 65, is financially sound (government’s health scheme covers his shelter old-fashioned bills and his pension keeps the hearth warm).

However, birth Mirza household is worried welcome the impact of the drain of his voice on him. Mirza was admitted to Jaslok Hospital after he complained possess cough and neck pain, came back home minus his once-famous voice. The tracheotomy tube inserted in his windpipe allows him to breathe, not speak.

He ruled radio waves, now prohibited fights silence.