Remembering Sahir Ludhianvi, The Romantic Rebel. Options

[Zayed]

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REMEMBERING SAHIR LUDHIANVI, THE ROMANTIC REBEL :


<<Mumbai, Oct 24 (IANS) Twenty-five years after his death, Sahir Ludhianvi's eloquent lyrics continue to resonate in people's minds, and no one in Bollywood is likely to take his place.

Though legions of lyricists have followed since his death Oct 25, 1980, seldom has there been a poet who brimmed with as much cynicism, scorn and disparagement for the modern world as Sahir (meaning enchanter or magician).

The poignancy in Sahir's creations was nurtured at a very young age when he faced his parents' estrangement as a teenager.

Born Adbul Hayee at Ludhiana in Punjab March 8, 1921, to Sardar Begum, one of his father Fazal Din's 14 wives, the Lahore High Court had to affirm Sahir's legitimacy when his own father questioned it.

This anguish is reflected in many of his lyrics like "Tu mere pyar ka phool hai" ("Dhool Ka Phool", 1959) and "Tu mere saath rahega munna" ("Trishul", 1978) -- which rebel against the concept of illegitimacy.

"Even as a person he never bothered whom he was facing although he was very kind-hearted. He just lashed out at people," says veteran music director Ravi, who composed the music for some of Sahir's greatest lyrics like "Chalo ek baar phir se" ("Humraaz", 1963), "Aage bhi jaane na tu" ("Waqt", 1965) and "Chhoo lene do naazuk hothon ko" ("Kaajal", 1965).

"After him Hindi film lyrics lost their potency. Today people can only write garbage. Show me someone who can match Sahir and I will return to the industry," Ravi told us.

Sahir's anti-establishment nature was first seen after he migrated to Pakistan, when a warrant for his arrest was issued in 1949 by the government there because of his tirade against the authorities. As a result, he fled to Mumbai.

Though "Naujawan" (1951) was his debut film, Sahir's first major success came later that year with Guru Dutt's "Baazi", where S.D. Burman set his poetry to music.

Thus began a successful collaboration with Burman that yielded some of his most popular songs, like "Yeh raat yeh chandni phir kahaan" ("Jaal", 1952) and "Teri duniya mein jeene se behtar hai ki mar jaayen" ("House Number 44", 1955).

Unfortunately the duo parted ways after reaching their high point with "Pyasa" (1957) in which Sahir bloomed into what he subsequently came to be known as - the romantic rebel.

Be it romance, patriotism, philosophy or devotional songs, he injected rebellion and cynicism into all his creations. The strong intellectual element in his poetry caught the imagination of the youth in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

Using his command over Urdu and Hindi, Sahir mocked religious dogma in "Sansar se bhaage phirte ho" ("Chitralekha", 1965), grandstanding politicians in "Jinhe naaz hai hind par woh kahan hai" ("Pyasa") and society in "Aurat ne janam diya mardon ko, mardon ne usse bazaar diya" ("Sadhana", 1958)

Sahir's cynicism did not spare even the majestic Taj Mahal. While he wrote lyrics for "Taj Mahal" (1963), not a single song in it eulogised or even referred to the marble monument.

Instead he ridiculed the grand mausoleum, which he loathed for its opulence.

In "Ghazal" (1964), he wrote: "Ek shahenshah ne daulat ka sahara lekar hum gareebon ki mohabbat ka udaya hai mazaak, meri mehboob kahin aur milakar mujhse" (By building the beautiful mausoleum, an emperor has mocked at the poor man's love. My dear! Let's not make the Taj our meeting spot).

Although a bachelor, his romantic trysts with several women were well known. But the only woman important in his life was his mother.

Sahir, who was extremely attached to her, did not survive too long after she died in 1976.

Addiction to nicotine and alcohol took its toll and he succumbed to a heart attack, leaving behind a rich legacy of poetry.>>

MusicIndiaOnline
October, 2005




Zayed

[Nimii]

Sahir Ludhianvi

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 morbid traditions of society.

{courtesy:hindilyrix.com}