Twitter Alert: Artists remember Mehdi Hassan

June 13 will be remembered in the history of Pakistan for years to come as it will now commemorate the passing away of legendary ghazal maestro Mehdi Hassan.

Mehdi Hassan, who was ailing from chest infections and breathing problems, passed away in Karachi at the age of 85. Both Pakistan and India mourned the legend’s sad demise.

Celebrities from the sub-continent praised him and lamented his passing away, with some posting what the greatest ghazal legend meant to them on social networking website Twitter.

Top tweets

Ali Zafar

Mehdi Hassan moves on & lives forever. Leaving us with a legacy of music, magic, memories and so much more than words can describe.

Ali Azmat

Oh my God, give his soul royal treatment when he arrives in heaven.

Shahrukh Khan

Memories of my mom cooking in a grimy kitchen as it rained outside, while Mehdi Hassan floated out of a Beltek two in one

Anupam Kher

Very saddened to hear about my favourite ghazal singer Mehdi Hassan’s demise. As a student, I had gate crashed into Pakistan Embassy to listen to him. RIP

Shreya Ghoshal

Mehdi Hassan saab is no more. The voice, who made many music lovers n lovers find an expression of their heart’s stories, is gone. RIP.

Madhur Bhandarkar

Emperor of ghazals no more. RIP Mehdi Hassan. You will be missed sorely!

Dia Mirza

RIP Mehdi Hassan Saab... Your songs are eternal...

Kamaal R Khan

Truth is this that Mehdi Hassan Sahab was the best ghazal singer of all time. Nobody will ever be able to replace him. RIP

Published In The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2012.