Ustad Qamruddin Bismillah Khan was one of the most famous Indian musicians who played shehnai. He popularized the use of Shehnai. He was born on 21 March 1916 and died on 21 August 2006. On 15th August 1947, the day when India got independence, he played shehnai before the Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2001, which is India's highest civilian honor. While taking the award, he gave a speech in which he asked the people of India to allow their children to learn music as music is one of the greatest tradition of India. He was the one who brought the shehnai to the concert stage and also elevated its status. He learned to play Shehnai from his ancestors who were great shehnai players. He does not believe much on composing songs for movies and films. Bismillah Khan was not so much attracted to the glamour of the film industry. Although he gave his contribution to two of the movies. He composed one of the hit songs in the film named "Gunj Uthi Shehnai" directed by Vijay Bhatt. The name of the song was "DIl Ka Khilona Hai Toot Gaya." Also, he composed one song "Samadhi Apanna" for a Kannada film.

Character Sketch of Bismillah Khan

Bismillah Khan was a legendary Indian musician who was born in Bihar in 1913. He was a shehnai player and was known for his mesmerizing performances. Here's a brief character sketch of Bismillah Khan:

Early Life
- Born in a family of musicians in Bihar
- His father and uncles were shehnai players
- Started learning music at a young age
- Showed great promise as a musician

Dedication to Music
- Spent most of his life practicing and performing music
- Believed that music was a way to connect with God
- Was committed to preserving and popularizing the shehnai, a traditional Indian instrument

Recognition and Awards
- Received numerous awards and honors, including the Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and Bharat Ratna
- Was invited to perform at various national and international events, including the Indian Independence Day celebrations in 1947

Legacy
- Considered one of the greatest shehnai players of all time
- Helped popularize the shehnai as a solo instrument
- Inspired many young musicians to take up the shehnai and other traditional Indian instruments

Conclusion
Bismillah Khan was not only a talented musician but also a dedicated and passionate one. He spent his life sharing his love of music with the world and inspiring others to do the same. His legacy continues to live on, and he remains an icon of Indian classical music.