Praising legendary singer Lata Mangeskar for her 'magical voice', veteran music composer Khayyam said her cheeks used to go red whenever she liked a composition.

"Lata Mangeshkar's voice is magical. I remember when we recorded for 'Razia Sultan', she sang 'Aye dil – e – nadan' and whenever she used to like a song, she would not say a word and instead her cheeks would go red. That's when you used to come to know she liked my composition, " said Khayyam.

Khayyam, who is musical even at this age, would just start singing in the middle of the conversation. You don't need to ask anything from this living legend; he would just end up recalling his fond memories to you.

"Once Begum Akhtar expressed the wish to work with me and she was about 60 years old when we recorded the Ghazal 'Mere Hum Safar Mere Hum Nava, Mujhe dost ban ke daga na de'. After the recording, I still remember when she said that today her voice feels like a 24 yr old and Khayyam put life into my voice, " he told.

Recently, Khayyam was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 55th Idea Filmfare Awards 2010. This award was presented to him by Asha Bhonsle.

When asked about this achievement, Khayyam divulged, "It feels wonderful every time you achieve an award. A lot of people said that I received this award a bit late but I've no complaints because everything happens at a particular time and may be this was my time."

Speaking about Asha Bhonsle, he said, "Without Ashaji, the success of "Umrao Jaan" wouldn't have been possible."

Mohammed Zahur "Khayyam" Hashmi, better known as Khayyam stepped into the industry with the hope to become a hero but turned out to be the most renowned music director of all times. He was never interested in his studies and was always fascinated by the music of Hindi cinema.

He was inclined towards cinema since a very young age. He often escaped to the city for watching movies. Khaiyyam soon ran away to his uncle's house who saw his passion for films and allowed him to learn music. In those days it was actually a step forward in realizing his ambitions.

He went to Lahore looking for roles in films but fate had something else in store for him. Khayyam got introduced to G.A. Chishti, one of the foremost music directors from Pakistan who got impressed by his singing talent and instantly gave him an offer of joining him as an assistant.

Later he moved to Bombay in 1946. One of his earliest breaks was in the film Biwi in which the song "Akele mein wo ghabrate to honge" sung by Mohammed Rafi was a huge hit. Thus, his film career started in 1953 with the popular songs of "Footpath" which established Khayyam's reputation as a great composer.

Recently, Saregama India Ltd. released an album series named "Parichay" which is a compilation of songs of the Golden Era of Bollywood Films music which are remembered even today.

"Parichay" is an endeavor to re-introduce those legendary music directors to the young populace as a tribute for their great music they've given to our industry.

On this occasion, a nostalgic Khayaam took a trip down memory lane and said, "I'm really happy that Saregama came up with this idea of releasing the 'Parichay' series. All the songs in the Mp3 are the ones which a music lover would love to hear over and over again".

Khayyam's Mp3 consists of 40 hit songs like "Akele Mein Woh Ghabrate", "Shaam-e-Gham ki Kasam", "Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein", "Baaharon Mera Jeevan Bhi Sanwaro", "Jeet Hi Lenge Baazi Hum Tum", "Dil Cheez Kya Hai", "Aye Dil-E-Nadan", "Aaja Re O Mere Dilbar Aaja", "Yeh Kya Jagah Hain Doston".

The 70's saw Khayyam's work in the Yash Chopra directed film "Kabhi Kabhi". The songs were super hits and showed Khayyam's versatility with huge hits like "Kabhi Kabhi mere dil mein Khayal ata hai", "Tere chehre se nazar Nahin hatti" and "Mein Pal do pal ka Sahayar Hun".

He has won three Filmfare Awards for Best Music in 1977 for Kabhi Kabhi. Khayyam was still to deliver his best and the opportunity came in Muzaffar Ali's "Umrao Jaan" in 1981 for which he got the prestigious "National Award" in 1982.

Along with composing some fantastic music for films, Khayaam also composed music for some TV serials like "Great Maratha", "Dard", "Bikhri Yaad Bhikri Preet". He also gave the background scores for "Jai Hanuman".

All his songs have the ability to evoke nostalgic memories in music lovers. Not surprising, since Khayyam himself is a philosopher who says he owes his success to God and his wife, singer Jagjit Kaur who had worked with him for film "Shagun".