Birth: 1921
Birthplace: Ludhiana, Punjab.
Profession: Poet, Bollywood Film song Lyricists
Family:
Abdul Hayie was born in Punjab in 1921. His formative years saw a lot of problems for the young man, the main being his villainous father and a major heartbreak during college. After getting his first work Talkhiyaan published from Lahore, Pakistan, Abdul Hayie, now known as Sahir Ludhianvi, had to flee Pakistan, after a warrant for his arrest was issued for writing explosive stuff in his editorial in Savera. An urge to succeed brought him to the land of dreams- Bombay. And thus started an illustrious career.
Sahir set the standards
Sahir, like his name, was a "magician" of words. He wove fascinating images in songs and ghazals, spellbinding his listeners and readers for decades. For about thirty years, he remained associated with the Hindi film industry. He composed hundreds of songs for Hindi/Urdu films. Most of his songs became hugely popular and are even today sung and hummed by people of all generations. Sahir`s most remarkable contribution is that through his lyrics, he catapulted the standards of Hindi film songs to a level that became the benchmark for quality poetry. His lyrics have immortalized many songs in the memory of Hindi film lovers.
For a moment, imagine and visualize the scene from Guru Dutt`s 'Pyaasa' (1957): "Jinhe naaz hai Hind par wo kahan hain!" The song succinctly portrays the decadence in Indian society, even as the accompanying visual is the camera tracking through a street of brothels. Or remember a dashing Devanand in 'Hum Dono' (1961), bellowing curls of smoke and singing. Take a romantic Amitabh Bachchan, ambling about a bed of flowers and crooning in the sylvan color riot of Yash Chopra`s 'Kabhi Kabhi' (1976).
'The Pyaasa' in Sahir Ludhianvi
Sahir Ludhianvi was basically a romantic poet. He had failed in love many times and therefore, his poetry is full of tragic emotions. He excels in portraying tragedy without going overboard. He talks of personal romance and the ensuing disillusionment. Then he talks of universal romance, and the inevitable frustration that follows it. His poetry is an amazing canvas of romantic shades.
The style is simple, straight, and direct. He minces no words. He expresses his thoughts directly without sublimating emotions. Sahir at times gets angry too. His anger can be against God or society. He challenges God and he challenges moribund traditions of society.
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