Sahir Ludhianvi

Abdul Hayee (8 March 1921 – 25 October 1980), popularly known by his pen name (takhallus) Sahir Ludhianvi, was an Indian poet who wrote primarily in Urdu in addition to Hindi. He is regarded as one of the greatest film lyricists and poets of 20th century India.

His work influenced Indian cinema, in particular Hindi language films.Coppola C. "Politics, Social Criticism and Indian Film Songs: The Case of Sahir Ludhianvi." Journal of Popular Culture 1977 10(4) p896-902. "Perhaps the best known and certainly the most legendary songwriter in Indian films today is Sahir Ludhianvi." Accessed 8 July 2015. Sahir won a Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist for Taj Mahal (1963). He won a second Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist for his work in Kabhie Kabhie (1976). He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1971.

On 8 March 2013, the ninety-second anniversary of Sahir's birth, a commemorative stamp was issued in his honour by India Post."President releases a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Sahir Ludhianvi." Public Information Bureau, Government of India, Published 8 March 2013, Accessed 14 November 2019

Early life and education Sahir was born on 8 March 1921, in a Punjabi -speaking Gujjar family in Karimpura, Ludhiana, Punjab, British India. This is the reason why he added the suffix Ludhianvi after his name. His mother, Sardar Begum, left her husband, thus forfeiting any claim to financial assets from the marriage. In 1934, Sahir's father remarried and sued (acrimoniously and unsuccessfully) for custody of his son. In a recent biography titled Sahir: A Literary Portrait (Oxford University Press) written by US-based author Surinder Deol, the author agrees with the brief conclusion of Pakistani poet Ahmad Rahi, a friend of Sahir over the years, about Sahir's life story in a nutshell, "In his entire life, Sahir loved once, and he nurtured one hate. He loved his mother, and he hated his father."Pandit P. Sahir Ludhianvi: Life Sketch and Poetry Rajpal and sons, 1995, p12. Sardar Begum required protection from Sahir's father and suffered financial deprivation.Verma C. and Abid S. "Main Sahir Hoon" Star Publications. 2014. (in Hindi). Sahir's place of birth in Ludhiana is marked with a small plaque on the building's arched entrance.

Sahir was educated at the Khalsa High School in Ludhiana. He then enrolled at the Government College, Ludhiana. The auditorium there is named after him."Sahir Ludhianvi in Unki Nazar Unka Shahar." Rajya Sabha TV, 27 January 2012 at YouTube. As a college student, Sahir was popular for his ghazals and nazms (poetry in Urdu) and impassioned speeches.

Career In 1943, Sahir settled in Lahore. There, he completed Talkhiyaan (Bitterness) (1945), his first published work in Urdu. He was member of All India Students Federation. Sahir edited Urdu magazines such as Adab-e-Lateef, Shahkaar, Prithlari, and Savera"Biography – Sahir Ludhyanvi." Urdu Poetry.com website, Accessed 14 November 2019 and became a member of the Progressive Writers' Association. However, when he made controversial statements promoting Communism, a warrant for his arrest was issued by the Government of Pakistan. In 1949, after partition, Sahir fled from Lahore to Delhi. After eight weeks, Sahir moved to Bombay. He later lived in Andheri, a suburb of Mumbai. There, his neighbours included Gulzar, a poet and lyricist and Krishan Chander, an Urdu litterateur.

Sahir was a member of IPTA and also the Progressive Writer's Association.

Sahir's work as a lyricist in the film industry gave him financial stability beyond his earnings as a poet. He made his debut with four songs in the film Azadi Ki Raah Par (1949). One of the songs was Badal Rahi Hai Zindagi. The film and its songs went unnoticed. However, after Naujawan (1951), with music by S.D. Burman, Sahir gained recognition. Sahir's major success was Baazi (1951) with composer Burman. Sahir was then considered part of Guru Dutt's team. The last film Sahir made with Burman was Pyaasa (1957). After this film, Sahir and Burman went their separate ways due to artistic and contractual differences.Saran S. "Ten Years with Guru Dutt – Abrar Alvi’s Journey." p111-112.

Sahir worked with other composers including Ravi, Roshan, Khayyam and Datta Naik. Datta Naik also credited as N. Datta, a Goan, admired Sahir's poetry and their collaboration produced the score for Milap (1955), Chandrakanta (1956), Sadhna (1958), Dhool Ka Phool (1959), Dharamputra (1961) and Naya Raasta (1970). Sahir also worked with music director Laxmikant–Pyarelal in the films like Izzat (1968), Man Ki Aankhen (1970), Dastaan (1972) and Daag (1973). From about 1950 until his death, Sahir collaborated with Baldev Raj Chopra, a film producer and director. Sahir's last work for Chopra was for Insaaf Ka Tarazu (1980). Yash Chopra, both while directing for B R Films, and later as an independent director and producer, also engaged Sahir as the lyricist for his films, till Sahir's death.

In 1958, Sahir wrote the lyrics for Ramesh Saigal's film Phir Subah Hogi, based on Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment. The male lead was played by Raj Kapoor. Shankar–Jaikishan would be composing music for the film but Sahir demanded a composer with a more intimate knowledge of the novel. Consequently, Khayyam composed the film score. The song Woh Subah Kabhi Toh Aayegi with its minimal background music remains popular. Khayyam collaborated with Sahir in many films including Kabhie Kabhie (1976) and Trishul (1978).

Sahir was a controversial figure in that he was artistically temperamental. He insisted that the film score should be composed for his lyrics and not the other way around. He also insisted on being paid one rupee more than Lata Mangeshkar and this created a rift between them. Sahir promoted his girlfriend, Sudha Malhotra's singing career. He also insisted that All India Radio credit film song lyricists in its broadcasts.

Personal life Sahir was romantically involved with Amrita Pritam and later Sudha Malhotra. Sahir and Pritam's love story was to be the subject of a 2014 movie that was legally objected to by the latter's grandson.

Death On 25 October 1980, at the young age of fifty-nine, Sahir died of a sudden cardiac arrest. He was buried at the Juhu Muslim cemetery. In 2010, his tomb was demolished to make room for new interments.

Filmography

Year Film Music Director Notes1948Azadi Ki Raah Par alias Swatantrata Ke Path ParG. D. KapoorDebut film1951 Baazi Sachin Dev Burman Ek Nazar Naujawan SazaaUncredited1952 Doraha Anil Krishna Biswas Jaal Sachin Dev Burman Lal Kunwar1953 Alif Laila Shyam Sundar Gaba ArmanSachin Dev BurmanBabla Jeevan Jyoti Humsafar Ali Akbar Khan ShahenshahSachin Dev BurmanSholeDhaniram1954AngaraySachin Dev BurmanRadha KrishnaSavdhanVasant Pawar & Ramchandra VadhavkarTaxi DriverSachin Dev Burman1955ChingariManohar Lal SonikDevdasSachin Dev BurmanHouse No. 44Joru Ka BhaiJaidev VermaMarine DriveDattaram Baburao NaikMilapMunimjiSachin Dev BurmanRailway PlatformMadan Mohan KohliSocietySachin Dev Burman1956ChandrakantaDattaram Baburao NaikFuntooshSachin Dev Burman1957Bade SarkarOmkar Prasad NayyarNaya DaurPyaasaSachin Dev BurmanTumsa Nahin DekhaOmkar Prasad NayyarUncredited195812 O'lockLight HouseDattaram Baburao NaikPhir Subha HogiMohammed Zahur Khayyam HashmiSadhnaDattaram Baburao NaikSone Ki ChidiyaOmkar Prasad Nayyar1959Bhai BahenDattaram Baburao NaikChar Dil Char RahenAnil Krishna BiswasDhool Ka PhoolDattaram Baburao NaikDidiDattaram Baburao Naik and Sudha Malhotra (separately)Lal NishanShiv Dayal Batish (credited as Nirmal Kumar)Naach GharDattaram Baburao Naik1960BabarRoshan Lal NagrathBarsat Ki RatGirl FriendHemant KumarHum HindustaniUsha KhannaMasoomRobin Banerjee1961DharmputraDattaram Baburao NaikHum DonoJaidev Verma1962Dilli Ka DadaDattaram Baburao NaikKala SamunderSachche MotiRe-released as Rajoo (1967)1963Aaj Aur KalRavi Shankar SharmaBahuraniRamchandra Narhar ChitalkarDil Hi Toh HaiRoshan Lal NagrathGumrahRavi Shankar SharmaMujhe Jeene DoJaidev VermaPyar Ka BandhanRavi Shankar SharmaTaj MahalRoshan Lal Nagrath1964Chandi Ki DeewarDattaram Baburao NaikChitralekhaRoshan Lal NagrathDooj Ka ChandGazalMadan Mohan KohliShagoonMohammed Zahur Khayyam Hashmi1965Bahu BetiRavi Shankar SharmaKaajalWaqt1967Bahu BegumRoshan Lal NagrathHamraazRavi Shankar Sharma1968AnkhenDo KaliyanIzzatLaxmikant-PyarelalNeel KamalRavi Shankar SharmaVaasnaChitragupta Srivastava1969Aadmi Aur InsaanRavi Shankar SharmaNannha FarishtaKalyanji-AnandjiPaisa Ya PyarRavi Shankar Sharma1970Man Ki AankhenLaxmikant-PyarelalNaya RaastaDattaram Baburao NaikSamaj Ko Badal DaloRavi Shankar Sharma1971ChingariGanga Tera Pani AmritSansarChitragupta Srivastava1972Bhai Ho Toh AisaSonik-OmiDastaanLaxmikant-Pyarelal1973Aa Gale Lag JaaDaag : A Poem Of LoveDhundRavi Shankar SharmaJoshilaRahul Dev BurmanMehmaanRavi Shankar Sharma197436 GhanteSapan Chakravarty1975DeewarRahul Dev BurmanEk Mahal Ho Sapno KaRavi Shankar SharmaJagritiLaxmikant–PyarelalZameerSapan Chakravarty1976Kabhi KabhieMohammed Zahur Khayyam HashmiLaila MajnuJaidev Verma and Madan Mohan Kohli (separately)Shankar ShambhuKalyanji-Anandji1977AmaanatRavi Shankar Sharma1978Nawab SahibC. ArjunTrishulMohammed Zahur Khayyam Hashmi1979Hum Tere Aashiq HainRavindra JainKaala PattharRajesh Roshan1980Chambal Ki KasamMohammed Zahur Khayyam HashmiInsaf Ka TarazuRavindra JainThe Burning TrainRahul Dev Burman1981Chehre Pe ChehraDattaram Baburao NaikDhanwanHridaynath MangeshkarLast film in which all the songs were written by him.1982Deedar-e-YaarLaxmikant-PyarelalJeeo Aur Jeene DoLakshmiUsha Khanna1983Film Hi FilmDattaram Baburao NaikFootages of 2 of his songs "Kitna Rangeen Hai Ye Chand Sitaron Ka Sama..." sung by Mohammed Rafi and Asha Bhosle and picturised on Guru Dutt and Sadhana Shivdasani alongside "Aadmi Ko Jeena Hai..." sung by Asha Bhosle and picturised on Guru Dutt and Helen, music by N. Datta, both from the shelved film Picnic (1964) was used in this documentary film.

Books

Mahmood K. T. (2000) Kalām-i Sāḥir Ludhiyānvī. A collection of Ludhiavni's poetry with English translation.Mahmood K. Kalām-i Sāḥir Ludhiyānvī. Star Publications, 2000. Abbas K. A. (1958) Shadows Speak: (Parchhaiyan). 29 pages.Abbas K. "Shadows Speak: (Parchhalyan)." Hassan R. (1977) The Bitter Harvest: Selections from Sahir Ludhiavni's Verse. 169 pages. Sucha S. (1989) Sorcery (Sahri): poetry.Sucha S. "Sorcery (Sahri): poetry. " Vudya Kitaban Forlag, Sollentuna, Sweden. . Accessed at World cat.org 19 November 2015. Gaata jaye Banjara (1992). A collection of film lyrics. Bitterness: Talkhiyan

In media The Hindi film, Pyaasa (1957), is said to be inspired by Sahir's unrequited affection for the Hindi novelist and poet, Amrita Pritam and features several famous songs with lyrics written by him. Sahir's life has been chronicled by Sabir DuttDutt S. "Fan-o-shaksiyat (Sahir No.)" and by Chander Verma and Dr. Salman Abid in "Main Sahir Hoon".

Sahir Ludhianvi: the People's Poet, a book by Akshay Manwani, is the product of interviews and writings about Sahir by his friends such as Yash Chopra, Dev Anand, Javed Akhtar, Khayyam, Sudha Malhotra, Ravi Chopra and Ravi Sharma.Sahir Ludhianvi: the People's Poet Harper Collins 2013. The book also analyses Sahir's poetry and lyrics in the context of his personal life.

Awards and nominations" Year Film Song Result Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist1959Sadhna"Aurat Ne Janam Diya"1960Dhool Ka Phool"Tu Hindu Banega"1964Tajmahal"Jo Waada Kiya"Gumrah"Chalo Ek Bar Phir Se"1968Hamraaz"Neele Gagan Ke Tale"1969Aankhen"Milti Hai Zindagi Mein"1977Kabhi Kabhie"Kabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein""Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shayar"1980Dada"Dil Ke Tukde Tukde Kar Ke"

Sahir Ludhianvi

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