Khwaabon Ka Shehzaada - Sahir Ludhianvi, on his 28th death anniversary Options Rating

[Anupama]

Today is Sahir Ludhianvi's 28th death anniversary. Sahir once said, "Kal Aur Aayenge Naghmon Ki Khilti Kaliyaan Chun-ne Waale, Mujhse Behtar Kehne Waale, Tumse Behtar Sun-ne Waale", but how do we tell Sahir sahab that there hasn't been anyone who has proved to be a better poet than him. Talk about better, there isn't even anyone who has come close to Sahir Ludhianvi after him!
I wish he hadn't left us all so early. His presence and his thoughts would have made the Hindi Music World a better one. I pay tribute to this great poet!



Itni Jaldi Bhi Kya Thi Sahir Tum Ko Jaane Ki
Kuchh Aur Talkhiyaan Dekh Lete Zamaane Ki______Anupama


I'm posting, along with his pictures, some Nazmz that Sahir Ludhianvi's friends wrote after his demise.



This post has been edited by Anupama: Oct 26 2008, 01:00 AM

[simplefable]

Anupama..thanks a lot for starting this wonderful thread. Lyricists are often the forgotten lot ...and i always feel that we will stay indebted to those great souls who enriched our lives. Every emotion of ours is reflected in their eternal words..so much so..that we feel that they wrote them just for us..and us alone.
There is a fine saying in telugu , my mother tongue..." Ravi kaanchani chota kavi kaanchagaladu.."...which implies that a poet can see and visit the places which are not accessible even to the Sun. They got this ability to drag those deepest feelings and give it a fine color.
Btw, Punya thithi..is a sanskrit word...so the same goes for Telugu too..

Sahir 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.

Bichchad gaya har saathi de kar, pal do pal ka saath
Kisko fursat hai jo thaame deewanon ka haath
Humko apna saaya tak, aksar bezaar mila
Humne to jab kaliyan mangin, kaaton ka haar mila !

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. He throws a gauntlet at the bourgeoisie members of society and their feudal mentality:

Are O Aasmaanwale! Bata isme bura kya hai
Khushi ke chaar jhonke gar idhar se bhi guzar jaaen

As a poet, Sahir belonged to the Progressive Writers` Movement. His poetry had a clear leaning towards socialist philosophy. Sahir was a multifaceted poet. Though his poetry was mostly tragic, romantic, and socialist, he also gave his perspectives on humanism, secularism, and feminism :

Sansaar kii har ek besharmii,
ghurbat kii god mein paltii hai
Chaklon mein hii aake ruktii hai,
faaqon mein jo raah nikaltii hai
Mardon kii hawas hai jo aksar,
aurat ke paap mein dhaltii hai

A colossus among song writers, Sahir fought for, and became the first film lyricist to get, royalty from music companies. He would deeply involve himself in the setting of tunes for his songs. Any wonder why they are extra melodious? There was a negative trait too: Sahir would insist he be paid a rupee more for each song than Lata Mangeshkar was.

Sahir will always find place in the hearts of his fans and his words will always echo …

maiN pal do pal ka shaayar houN
pal do pal meri kahaanii hai
pal do pal meri hastii hai
pal do pal meri javaanii hai

mujhse pahle kitne shaayar aaye
aur aa kar chale gaye
kuchh aaheiN bhar kar lauT gaye
kuchh naGhme gaa kar chale gaye
vo bhi ik pal ka qissa the
maiN bhi ik pal ka qissa houN
kal tumse judaa ho jaaouNgaa
go aaj tumhaaraa hissaa houN

The truth is, that Sahir, the magician of lyrics, was perhaps the last of his tribe. His place in Hindi film
music remains at the top, unchallenged, and untouchable.

Read a small anecdote that says...Sahir had unhappy love affairs with Amrita pritam and Sudha Malhotra. It is always said that one song in particular is stemmed from true feelings of the genius poet...which is a timeless classic :

Ashkon mein jo paya hain...
Woh geeto mein diya hain..
Is par suna hai ke Zamane ko gila hain..

And though a bit out of context..seeing the way the values are going down with the present day India or world for that matter...the immediate thoughts of mine are...

Yeh kooche, yeh neelaam ghar dilkashi ke
Yeh lut-te hue kaarwaan zindagi ke
Kahaan hain, kahaan hain muhafiz khudi ke?
Jinhen naaz hai Hind par woh kahaan hain?

Truly timeless Lyricist !! May His Soul rest in eternal peace..

( all the matter is gleaned of net...so nothing is mine except the feelings.. )