Lyricists III

Raja Mehdi Ali Khan

Raja Mehdi Ali Khan was born at Jhelum District of Pakistan in September 1915. In the stratig of his career he worked with All India Radio, Delhi, where he came in contact with Sadat Hasan Manto. It was Manto who introduced Raja to Ashok Kumar. Raja Mehdi Ali debuted with 1946s' Eight days. He then got a chance to write songs for Do Bhai. His songs Mere Sundar Spna Beet Gaya was a hit. His works with Madan Mohan were very popular. Together they worked for Madhosh, Anpadh, Mera Saya, Wo Kaun Thi?, Neela Aakash, Anita etc. Some of his popular songs are Meri Yaad Mein TumNa Aansoo Bahana - Madhosh, Aap Yun Hi Agar Hum Se Milte Rahe - Ek Musafir Ek Haseena, Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha - Anpadh, Agar Mujhse Mohabbat Hai - Aap Ki Parchhaiyan, La Ja Gale - Wo Kaun Thi?, Naina barse Rimjhim rimjhim - Wo Kaun Thi?, Tu Jahan Jahan Chalega - Mera Saya, Jhumka Gira Re - Mera Saya etc. He died on July 2, 1966.

Nida Fazli

Nida Fazli was born on October 12, 1938 as Muqtida Hasan Nida Fazli. His father was an Urdu poet from whom he inherited it. His family migrated to Pakistan in 1947 but Nida stayed back in India. He moved to Bombay in 1964 and started writing poetry for magazines and news papers. He got his chance to write songs for the film in 1974 with Shatranj Ke Mohre. He did not get enough work after that but he stayed back and struggled. He gained his popularity with 1980s Aahista Aahista. His Song Kabhi Kisi Ko Muqammal Jahan Nahin Milta, sung by Bhupinder, was a huge hit. Some of his popular songs are Kiski Sadayen Mujhko Bulayen - Red Rose, Chand Ke Paas Jo Sitara Hai - Sweekar Kiya Maine, Tere Mere Naam - Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin, Tu Is Tarah Se Meri Zindagi Mein - Aap To Aise Na The, Kabhi Palkon Pe Aansoo Hain - Harjaai, Ajnabi Kaun Ho Tum - Sweekar Kiya Maine, Hosh Walon KO Khabar Kya - Sarfarosh, etc. Fazli died of a heart attack on 8 February 2016.

Qateel Shifai

He was born on December 24, 1919 as Mohd. Aurangzeb. He was very fond of Urdu poetry since his school days. In 1938 he adopted his pen name Qateel Shifai. His first ghazal was published in Lahore Weekly 'Star'. He entered film industry with 1947 film Teri Yaad Mein. He wrote songs for many Hindi films like Aabshar, Kudrat, Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayi etc. He wrote songs for numerous private albums by prominent singers like Jagjit Singh,Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Pankaj Udhas etc. Qateel Shifai died on 11 July 2001 in Lahore, Pakistan. His memorable songs are Tere Dar Par Sanam Chale Aaye - Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayi, Sambhala Hai Maine Bahut Apne Dil Ko - Naaraz, Aaj Humne Dil Ka Har Kissa - Sir, Sukh Dukh Ki Mala - Kudrat, etc.

Faruk Kaiser

Faruk Kaiser was born in 1918 into a jeweller’s family. He started his film career with 1949 film Roop Lekha. Hee wrote 2 songs for the film. In his initial days he mostly got to write for low budget films like Simba, Jaaugar, Sakhi Lutera, Sipahsalar etc. In 1958 he wrote song for Aji Bas Shukriya. The Song Saari Saari Raat Teri Yaad Sataye was a hit and Faruk came to the light. Some of his popular songs are Dil Lootne Wale Jaadugar - Madari, Saaz-e-Dil Chhed De - Passport, Ui Ma Ui Ma Ye Kya Ho Gaya - Parasmani, Koi Yahan Aha Nachae nache - Disco Dancer, O Yaara - Kaash, Tujhpe Qurban Meri Jaan - Qurbani etc. Fauk died on November 10, 1987.

Shaharyar

He was born as Akhlaq Mohammad Khan on June 16, 1936. He did his PhD from Aligarh Muslim University and started teaching Urdu. He was appointed Professor in Aligarh Muslim University. His first poetry collection Ism-e-azam was published in 1965, the second collection, Satvan dar, appeared in 1969 and the third collection Hijr ke mausam was released in 1978. His close friend Muzaffar Ali was making a film and he invited Shaharyar to write the songs. This film was Gaman released in 1978. His song Seene Mein Jalan is still remembered today. Muzaffar Ali gave him another landmark film Umrao Jaan in 1981. The songs created a wave across the country. Some of his prominent songs are Dil Cheez Kya Hai - Umrao Jaan, In Aankhon Ki Masti Ke - Umrao Jaan, Hum Chup Hain Ki Dil Sun Rahe Hain - Faasle, etc. Shahryar died on 13 February 2012

Sudarshan Fakir

He was born as Sudarshan Kamra, in 1934, in Jallandhar, Punjab. He was very active in poetry and dramatics in his college days. He moved to Bombay in 70s and strated writing ghazal and nazms for private albums. In 1979 He wrote songs for the film Dooriyan. His song Zindagi Mere Ghar Aana composed by Jaidev, became very popular. Sudarshan Faakir is the first lyricist to have won a Filmfare Award for his very first song. Some of his popular songs are Wo Kaagaz Ki Kashti - Aaj, Khota Paisa Nahin Chalega - Dooriyan, Zindagi Meri Hai Ek Toota Hua - Raavan, Phir Aaj Mujhe Tumse - Aaj, etc. Sudarshan died on 18 February 2008, at a hospital in Jalandhar, at the age of 73.

Amit Khanna

He was born on March 1, 1951. Khanna started his film career as executive producer with Dev Anand's Navketan Films in 1971. He worked with Navkean for many years and shared a close relationship with Dev Anand. As a lyricist he has penned over 200 Hindi film songs, working mainly with music directors like Bappi Lahiri, Rajesh Roshan and Laxmikant–Pyarelal. His Popular songs include Chalte Chalte Mere ye Geet Yaad Rakhna - Chale Chalte, Yaadon mein Wo - Swami, Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuchh Kaha - Baaton Baaton Mein, Dil Se Mile Dil - Dil Se Mile Dil, Haan Pehli Baar - Aur Kaun, etc. He wrote numerous songs for private albums as well. He was the founder chairman of Reliance Entertainment. He is credited with having coined the name Bollywood.

Vitthal Bhai Patel

Vitthal Bhai Patel was a man of many talents. He was an industrialist, politician, sportsman and a poet at heart. He use to write occasionally. It was Raj Kapoor who gave him his first chance to write songs for the films, with his home production Bobby. Vitthal wrote Jhooth Bole hauwa Kaate and Na Chahun Sona Chandi for the film and they became very popular. He wrote songs for many films like Sanyasi, Dharamveerm Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Shayad, Red Rose, Daulat, Biwi O Biwi, Sweekar Kiya Maine etc. He wrote approx. 150 songs for various films. His popular songs are Jab Jab Jo Jo Hona Hai - Vishwanath, Waqt Se Pehle Qismat Se Jyada - Biwi O Biwi, Teri Har Ada Hai Haseen - Daulat, Baahon Ke Ghere Mein - Nazrana Pyar Ka, etc.

Rajkavi Indrajeet Singh Tulsi

Indrajeet Singh Tulsi was born on April 2, 1926. Tulsi was regarded as one of India's most influential poets. The Government of India honoured him with the Rajkavi in 1962 and the Padma Shri in 1966 for his contributions towards the arts. Actor director Manoj Kumar heard his poetry in a function and invited him to write songs for his film Shor. Tulsi wrote Pani Re Pani Tera Rang Kaisa which became very popular. He then went on to work with the big shots of music and film industry and wrote many songs. His popular songs are Le Jayenge Le Jayenge Dil Wale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge - Chor Machaye Shor, Ek Daal Pe Tota Bole - Chr Machaye Shor, Samay Tu Dheere Dheere Chal - Karm, Ja Re Ja O Harjaaee - Kalicharan etc. He died on May 11, 1984.

Gopal Singh Nepali

Gopal Singh Nepali was born on August 11, 1911 in Bihar. His real name was Gopal Bahadur Singh. His association with Bollywood spanned around two decades, beginning in 1944 and ended with his death in 1963.Nepali ji, who made a separate identity as a film songwriter, has written about 300 songs in 54 movies. He started his career with 1945s film Begum. Studio Filmistan appointed him as the lyricist and he wrote many songs for films like, Mazddor, Shikari, 8 Days, Safar, Leela, Ahinsa etc. He was later typecast as a song writer for mythological films. Some of his popular songs are Umeed Bhara Panchhi Tha Khoj Raha - 8 Days, Door Papiha Bola - Anokha Pyar, Darshan Do Ghanshyam - Narsi Bhagat, kahan Teri Manzil Hai - Nayi Raahen, Shama Se Koyi Keh De - Jai Bhawani etc. He died on 17 April 1963.

LYRICISTS

The Wordsmiths of Hindi Film Songs