Sahir Ludhianvi Explained

Sahir Ludhianvi
Birth Name:Abdul Hayee
Birth Date:1921 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Ludhiana, Punjab, British India
Death Place:Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Occupation:Poet, lyricist and writer
Education:S.C.D Government College, Ludhiana
Period:20th century
Genre:Poetry
Subject:Movie Lyrics
Movement:Progressive Writers' Association
Partner:Sudha Malhotra
Amrita Pritam
Awards:Padma Shri (1971)
Filmfare Awards (1964 and 1977)

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.[1] He is regarded as one of the greatest film lyricist and poets of 20th century India.[2]

His work influenced Indian cinema, in particular Hindi language films.[3] 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.[4] [5]

On 8 March 2013, the ninety-second anniversary of Sahir's birth, a commemorative stamp was issued in his honor by India Post.[4] [6]

Early life and education

Sahir was born on 8 March 1921, in a 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 very 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."[5] [7] Sardar Begum required protection from Sahir's father and suffered financial deprivation.[8] 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.[9] The auditorium there is named after him.[10] As a college student, Sahir was popular for his ghazals and nazms (poetry in Urdu) and empassioned 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[11] 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.[11] 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[12]

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 performed in the film Azadi Ki Raah Par (1949). One of the songs was Badal Rahi Hai Zindagi. Both 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). Again, the composer was Burman. Sahir was then considered part of Guru Dutt's team. The last film Sahir made with Burman was Pyaasa (1957).[13] After this film, Sahir and Burman went separate ways due to artistic and contractual differences.[14]

Sahir did work 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).[15] Sahir also worked with music director Laxmikant–Pyarelal in the films like Man Ki Aankhen (1968), Izzat (1968), 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.[16]

In 1958, Sahir wrote the lyrics for Ramesh Saigal's film Phir Subah Hogi, which was based on Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment. The male lead was played by Raj Kapoor. It was presumed that Shankar–Jaikishan would be the composer but Sahir demanded a composer with a more intimate knowledge of the novel. 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).[17] [18]

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.[19] He also insisted that All India Radio credit film song lyricists in its broadcasts.

Death

On 25 October 1980, at the age of fifty-nine, Sahir died of a sudden cardiac death.[19] [4] He was buried at the Juhu Muslim cemetery. In 2010, his tomb was demolished to make room for new interments.[20]

Works

Books

Songs

In media

The Hindi movie, 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.[25]

Sahir's life has been chronicled by Sabir Dutt[26] and by Chander Verma and Dr. Salman Abid in "Main Sahir Hoon"[8]

Sahir Ludhianvi: the People's Poet by Akshay Manwani[27] The book 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. The book also analyses Sahir's poetry and lyrics in the context of his personal life.[28]

Awards and nominations

YearFilmSongResult
Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist
1959SadhnaAurat Ne Janam Diya [29]
1960Dhool Ka PhoolTu Hindu Banega
1964TajmahalJo Waada Kiya
GumrahChalo Ek Bar Phir Se
1968HamraazNeele Gagan Ke Tale
1969AankhenMilti Hai Zindagi Mein
1977Kabhi KabhieKabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein
Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shayar
1980DadaDil Ke Tukde Tukde Kar Ke

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema. 1994. Routledge. Ashish Rajadhyaksha. Paul Willemen. Transferred the progressive Urdu literature exemplified by poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz to the Hindi film lyric.... 13 June 2024. 26 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211226170024/https://wiki.indiancine.ma/wiki/Sahir%20Ludhianvi. live.
  2. Web site: Sahir Ludhianvi - Profile & Biography . 2023-02-05 . Rekhta . en . 5 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230205015228/https://www.rekhta.org/poets/sahir-ludhianvi/profile . dead.
  3. 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.
  4. Book: Sahir Ludhianvi's Padma Shri (1971) and Filmfare Awards (1964 and 1977) (see page 11). Indian Philately Digest via GoogleBooks website. https://web.archive.org/web/20230510184014/https://books.google.com/books?id=n4XDBAAAQBAJ&dq=Padma+Shri+for+Sahir+Ludhianvi&pg=PA11 . 10 May 2023. 10 May 2023. 13 June 2024.
  5. Web site: Sahir's poetry is a beacon of hope . Nawaid Anjum . The Indian Express (newspaper) . 25 October 2019 . 28 January 2022 . 10 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211210080913/https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/books/sahir-ludhainvi-poetry-is-a-beacon-of-hope-book-6086766/ . live .
  6. http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=93265 "President releases a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Sahir Ludhianvi."
  7. Pandit P. Sahir Ludhianvi: Life Sketch and Poetry Rajpal and sons, 1995, p12.
  8. Verma C. and Abid S. "Main Sahir Hoon" Star Publications. 2014. (in Hindi).
  9. News: M. l. Dhawan. Sahir: The poet lives on. https://web.archive.org/web/20070912212818/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050601/ldh3.htm#9 . 24 October 2004. The Tribune India newspaper. 12 September 2007. dead. 14 June 2024.
  10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWPp7GZgSnw "Sahir Ludhianvi in Unki Nazar Unka Shahar."
  11. http://www.urdupoetry.com/profile/sahir.html "Biography – Sahir Ludhyanvi."
  12. Web site: Inhabiting two worlds. Frontline. Patha. Chatterjee. 2014-02-05. 2024-10-29.
  13. Web site: http://@hisunil. 2021-01-05. SAHIR LUDHIANVI: "The Magician" whose songs live on reverberating with love and life. 2021-04-04. TheLeaflet. en-US. 5 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210105134628/https://www.theleaflet.in/sahir-ludhianvi-the-magician-whose-songs-live-on-reverberating-with-love-and-life/. live.
  14. Saran S. "Ten Years with Guru Dutt – Abrar Alvi’s Journey." p111-112.
  15. Web site: Milap (1955) . Hindigeetmala.net . 24 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170625072856/http://www.hindigeetmala.net/movie/milap.htm . 25 June 2017 . live.
  16. Web site: Sahir's poetry in Kabhi Kabhie and our forever connection with them. . 10 March 2019.
  17. Web site: 100 Greatest Bollywood Soundtracks Ever – Part 4 . Planet Bollywood . 7 March 2011.
  18. Web site: Poetry and Melody: A Musical Journey Through Khayyam's Life . Quint. 20 August 2019. 21 August 2019.
  19. Web site: Sahir Ludhianvi - Profile . 22 July 2010. 14 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191114235813/http://cineplot.com/sahir-ludhianvi/ . Cineplot.com website . 14 June 2024. dead.
  20. News: 2010-02-11 . Rafi, Madhubala don't rest in peace here . 2024-10-10 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
  21. Mahmood K. Kalām-i Sāḥir Ludhiyānvī. Star Publications, 2000.
  22. Abbas K. "Shadows Speak: (Parchhalyan)."
  23. Sucha S. "Sorcery (Sahri): poetry. " Vudya Kitaban Forlag, Sollentuna, Sweden. . Accessed at World cat.org 19 November 2015.
  24. News: The stamp of a poet (With layered thoughts flowing endlessly, Sahir Ludhianvi's words transcended generations). 17 March 2013. dead. 13 June 2024. The Hindu newspaper. Ziya Us Salam. https://web.archive.org/web/20130317090219/https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-columns/the-stamp-of-a-poet/article4512244.ece.
  25. News: Dutt. Nirupama. October 24, 2020. Roundabout: Pyaasa revisited on Sahir Ludhianvi's death anniversary in his centenary year. Hindustan Times. November 27, 2021. 7 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220107100809/https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/roundabout-pyaasa-revisited-on-sahir-ludhianvi-s-death-anniversary-in-his-centenary-year/story-FEWENODi45YrA50EDLOtUK.html. live.
  26. Dutt S. "Fan-o-shaksiyat (Sahir No.)"
  27. Sahir Ludhianvi: the People's Poet Harper Collins 2013.
  28. Web site: Sahir Ludhianvi - The People's Poet . HarperCollinsPublishers.
  29. Web site: The Nominations - 1958, Filmfare Awards. https://archive.today/20120710185217/http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com/articleshow/articleshow/366373.cms . 10 July 2012. Indiatimes.com website. 28 January 2022.

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