Overview
Mohammed Aziz (1954–2018) was an Indian playback singer who performed primarily in Hindi, Bengali and Odia cinema. Active from the early 1980s until his death, he became one of the most prolific male voices in Hindi film music during the late 1980s and early 1990s, recording songs for composers such as Laxmikant–Pyarelal, Bappi Lahiri and Anu Malik. He was particularly associated with songs picturised on Amitabh Bachchan, Govinda, Rishi Kapoor and Mithun Chakraborty during that period.
Key facts
| Full name | Mohammed Aziz (Syed Mohammed Aziz-un-Nabi) |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 July 1954, Ashok Nagar, Kolkata, West Bengal |
| Died | 27 November 2018, Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Occupation | Playback singer |
| Languages | Hindi, Bengali, Odia |
| Years active | 1980s–2018 |
| Influences | Mohammed Rafi |
| Debut (Hindi film) | Ambar (1984) |
Background
Mohammed Aziz was born in Kolkata and began singing at a young age, performing at local stage shows in West Bengal. He started his professional career in Bengali music and worked at the Galaxy Restaurant in Kolkata as a stage performer before moving to Mumbai in the early 1980s to pursue a career in playback singing. He often acknowledged Mohammed Rafi as his primary influence, and his vocal style drew comparisons with Rafi's delivery.
Career
Early work in Bengali and Odia
Before establishing himself in Hindi cinema, Aziz recorded extensively in Bengali. He also became a popular voice in Odia film music and devotional recordings, with his Jagannath bhajans achieving wide circulation in Odisha.
Hindi film playback
His Hindi film debut came with Ambar (1984). The breakthrough arrived with Mard (1985), directed by Manmohan Desai and composed by Anu Malik, where the title song "Mard Taangewala" picturised on Amitabh Bachchan brought him national recognition. Through the late 1980s he was a regular voice for Laxmikant–Pyarelal and Bappi Lahiri.
Notable songs and films include:
- "My Name is Lakhan" – Ram Lakhan (1989)
- "Aaya Aaya Atwa Aaya" – Khuda Gawah (1992)
- "Imli Ka Boota" – Saudagar (1991)
- Songs in Dharm Adhikari, Watan Ke Rakhwale, Dariya Dil, Khudgarz, Tezaab, Ram Avtar, Hatya, Coolie No. 1 and Hum
He recorded duets with Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Anuradha Paudwal and Alka Yagnik, and frequently sang qawwalis and patriotic numbers. With the shift in Hindi film music during the mid-1990s towards a younger generation of singers, his output in Hindi cinema reduced, though he continued recording in Bengali and Odia and performing live concerts in India and abroad.
Death
Mohammed Aziz died on 27 November 2018 in Mumbai after suffering a cardiac arrest at the airport on returning from a concert in Kolkata. He was 64.
Significance
Aziz was among the highest-recording male playback singers of the late 1980s, and is credited with continuing the Rafi-style melodic vocal tradition in Hindi cinema during a period dominated by orchestral, large-canvas compositions. In Odia music, his bhajans dedicated to Lord Jagannath retain a devotional following, and in Bengali film music he is remembered for both modern songs (adhunik) and film recordings.
Related topics
- Playback Singing in India
- Hindi Film Music
- Laxmikant–Pyarelal
- Bappi Lahiri
- Anu Malik
- Mohammed Rafi
- Odia Cinema
- Bengali Cinema
- Mard (film)
- Ram Lakhan
References
- Obituaries published in Indian newspapers, November 2018.
- Filmographies maintained by Hindi, Bengali and Odia film archives.