Sahir Ludhianvi :Main pal do pal ka shayar hun

"Main pal do pal ka shayar hun pal do pal meri kahani hai,
Pal do pal meri hasti hai,pal do pal meri Jawani hai"

Today,8th March 2010 was Sahir ludhianvi's 89th birth anniversary.I don't think the hindi film industry has ever seen such a prodigious lyricist who has given us so many gems.

Born Abdul Hayee on March 8, 1921, Sahir was the only son of a Ludhiana zamindar. His parents' estrangement and the Partition made him shuttle between India and Pakistan. It also brought him face to face with a struggle called life. A member of the Progressive Writers' Association, he edited Adab-e-Latif, Pritlari, Savera and Shahrab. An arrest warrant issued by the Pakistani government of the day made him flee to Bombay in 1949. By now, he had managed to publish his anthology Talkhiyaan (Bitternesses). Besides Talkhiyaan and the hundreds of film songs he penned in a career spanning three decades, Sahir also authored the anthologies Parchaiyaan, Ao Ki Koi Khwab Buney and Gaata Jaaye Banjara.

Sahir debuted in films with his lyrics for Naujawan (1951). Even today, the film's lilting song Thandi Hawayen Lehrake Aaye makes hearts flutter. His first major success came the same year with Guru Dutt's directorial debut, Baazi, again pairing him with composer S.D. Burman. Together, S.D. Burman and Sahir created some of the most popular songs ever: Yeh Raat Yeh Chandni Phir Kahaan - Jaal (1952); Jaaye to Jaaye Kahaan - Taxi Driver (1954); Teri Duniya Mein Jeene se Behtar Ho Ki Mar Jaayen - House Number 44 (1955); and Jeevan ke Safar Mein Rahi - Munimji (1955). The duo reached their creative zenith with Pyaasa (1957).

Sahir was a bachelor till the end of his life though he was said to have an affair with Amrita Pritam the doyen of Punjabi literature and later Sudha Malhotra, singer. Both could not reach culmination in marriage.

"Kal Aur Aayenge Naghmon Ki Khilti Kaliyaan Chun-ne Waale, Mujhse Behtar Kehne Waale, Tumse Behtar Sun-ne Waale"

I don't think anyone writing better than him has yet arrived on the scene. He had a flair for writing songs with a social cause but was equally at ease with romantic numbers. A few examples of social numbers are " Ye dunia agar mil jaaye to kya hai", a"Kal Aur Aayenge Naghmon Ki Khilti Kaliyaan Chun-ne Waale, Mujhse Behtar Kehne Waale, Tumse Behtar Sun-ne Waale", a comment on the rulers wrt to the state of india post independence after the initial euphoria had subsided "Jinhe naaz hai hind par vo kaha hai", "Woh subah kabhi to aayegi" hopes for a better day or a romanti cum social song"tum mujhe bhul bhi jao to ye haq hai tumko" where the heroine professes the love while the hero says he has obligation to the society:

"Zindagi Sirf Mohabbat Nahin Kuchh Aur Bhi Hai
Zulf Rukhsar Ki Jannat Nahin Kuchh Aur Bhi Hai
Bhook Aur Pyaas Ki Maari Is Duniya Mein
Ishq Hi Ek Haqeeqat Nahi Kuchh Aur Bhi Hai
Tum Agar Aankh Churaao To Yeh Haq Hai Tumko
Maine Tumse Hi Nahin Sabse Mohabbat Ki Hai"

That was an era when films were made with a cause, and songs had soul. Song making was a collaborative effort between the director, music director, lyricist and the singer. No wonder the songs made 5-6 decades back still seems to be stuck in our hearts.

Who could forget the full of life "mai zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya" from Hum dono of Sahir, or the teasing duet "hum aap ki aankhon mein is dil ko chupa lein to". ABhi na jaao chor kar ke dil abhi bhara nahi" still continues to rule the heart of every romantic person.

On the other hand "chalo ik baar phir se ajnabi ban jaaye hum dono" from film Gumraah is one of the finest piece of poetry you would ever see. It captures the pathoes and dilaemma of unfulfilled love so beautifully. Just sample some gems of this song:

Na main tumse koi ummeed rakhoon dilnavaazi ki
Na tum meri taraf dekho galat andaaz nazaron se
Na mere dil ki dhadkan ladkhadaaye meri baaton mein
Na zaahir ho tumhaari kashm-kash ka raaz nazaron se

Tumhen bhi koi uljhan rokti hai peshkadmi se
Mujhe bhi log kehte hain, ki yeh jalve paraaye hain
Mere hamraah bhi rusvaaiyaan hain mere maajhi ki
Tumhaare saath bhi guzri hui raaton ke saaye hain

Taarruf rog ho jaaye to usko bhoolnaa behtar
Taalluk bojh ban jaaye to usko todnaa achchha
Voh afsaana jise anjaam tak laana na ho mumkin
Use ik khoobsoorat mod dekar chhodna achchha

I don't think anyone has captured the emotions so beautifully in a single song, each stanza is a gem!

In a long and illustrious career Sahir contributed many other great songs like "jo wada kiya voh nibhabna padega", "Allah tero naam, ishwar tero naam", "Tu hindu banega na musalmaan banega'', "kabhi kabhi mere dil me khayal aata hai" and the unforgettably die hard romantic "aye meri zohr-a-jabi" from Waqt.

May we have another Sahir!