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Sahir Ludhianvi
2013 stamp featuring Sahir Ludhianvi by India Post
Born	Abdul Hayee (1921-03-08)8 March 1921 Ludhiana, Punjab, British India
Died	25 October 1980(1980-10-25) (aged 59) Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Occupation	Poet, lyricist and writer
Education	S.C.D Government College, Ludhiana
Period	20th century
Genre	Poetry
Subject	Movie Lyrics
Literary movement	Progressive Writers' Association
Notable awards	Padma Shri (1971) Filmfare Awards (1964 and 1977)
Partner	Sudha Malhotra Amrita Pritam

Abdul Hayee (8 March 1921 – 25 October 1980), popularly known by his pen name (takhallus) Sahir Ludhianvi, was an Indian poet who wrote primarily in Urdu in addition to Hindi.^[1] He is regarded as one of the greatest film lyricist and poets of 20th century India.^[2][3]

His work influenced Indian cinema, in particular Hindi language films.^[4] Sahir won a Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist for Taj Mahal (1963). He won a second Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist for his work in Kabhie Kabhie (1976). He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1971.^[5][6]

On 8 March 2013, the ninety-second anniversary of Sahir's birth, a commemorative stamp was issued in his honor by India Post.^[5][7]

Sahir was born on 8 March 1921, in a Gujjar family in Karimpura, Ludhiana, Punjab, British India.^[8] This is the reason why he added the suffix Ludhianvi after his name. His mother, Sardar Begum, left her husband, thus forfeiting any claim to financial assets from the marriage. In 1934, Sahir's father remarried and sued (acrimoniously and unsuccessfully) for custody of his son. In a recent biography titled Sahir: A Literary Portrait (Oxford University Press) written by US-based author Surinder Deol, the author agrees with the very brief conclusion of Pakistani poet Ahmad Rahi, a friend of Sahir over the years, about Sahir's life story in a nutshell, "In his entire life, Sahir loved once, and he nurtured one hate. He loved his mother, and he hated his father."^[6][9] Sardar Begum required protection from Sahir's father and suffered financial deprivation.^[10] Sahir's place of birth in Ludhiana is marked with a small plaque on the building's arched entrance.

Sahir was educated at the Khalsa High School in Ludhiana. He then enrolled at the Government College, Ludhiana.^[8] The auditorium there is named after him.^[11] As a college student, Sahir was popular for his ghazals and nazms (poetry in Urdu) and empassioned speeches.^[12]

In 1943, Sahir settled in Lahore. There, he completed Talkhiyaan (Bitterness) (1945), his first published work in Urdu. He was member of All India Students Federation. Sahir edited Urdu magazines such as Adab-e-Lateef, Shahkaar, Prithlari, and Savera^[12][13] and became a member of the Progressive Writers' Association. However, when he made controversial statements promoting Communism, a warrant for his arrest was issued by the Government of Pakistan. In 1949, after partition, Sahir fled from Lahore to Delhi. After eight weeks, Sahir moved to Bombay.^[12] He later lived in Andheri, a suburb of Mumbai. There, his neighbours included Gulzar, a poet and lyricist and Krishan Chander, an Urdu litterateur.

Sahir was a member of IPTA and also the Progressive Writer's Association^[14]

Sahir's work as a lyricist in the film industry gave him financial stability beyond his earnings as a poet. He made his debut with four songs performed in the film Azadi Ki Raah Par (1949). One of the songs was Badal Rahi Hai Zindagi. Both the film and its songs went unnoticed. However, after Naujawan (1951), with music by S.D. Burman, Sahir gained recognition. Sahir's major success was Baazi (1951). Again, the composer was Burman. Sahir was then considered part of Guru Dutt's team. The last film Sahir made with Burman was Pyaasa (1957).^[15] After this film, Sahir and Burman went separate ways due to artistic and contractual differences.^[16]

Sahir did work with other composers including Ravi, Roshan, Khayyam and Datta Naik. Datta Naik also credited as N. Datta, a Goan, admired Sahir's poetry and their collaboration produced the score for Milap (1955), Chandrakanta (1956), Sadhna (1958), Dhool Ka Phool (1959), Dharamputra (1961) and Naya Raasta (1970).^[17] Sahir also worked with music director Laxmikant–Pyarelal in the films like Man Ki Aankhen (1968), Izzat (1968), Dastaan (1972) and Daag (1973). From about 1950 until his death, Sahir collaborated with Baldev Raj Chopra, a film producer and director. Sahir's last work for Chopra was for Insaaf Ka Tarazu (1980). Yash Chopra, both while directing for B.R.films, and later as an independent director and producer, also engaged Sahir as the lyricist for his films, till Sahir's death.^[18]

In 1958, Sahir wrote the lyrics for Ramesh Saigal's film Phir Subah Hogi, which was based on Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment. The male lead was played by Raj Kapoor. It was presumed that Shankar–Jaikishan would be the composer but Sahir demanded a composer with a more intimate knowledge of the novel. Khayyam composed the film score. The song Woh Subah Kabhi Toh Aayegi with its minimal background music remains popular. Khayyam collaborated with Sahir in many films including Kabhie Kabhie (1976) and Trishul (1978).^[19][20]

Sahir was a controversial figure in that he was artistically temperamental. He insisted that the film score should be composed for his lyrics and not the other way around. He also insisted on being paid one rupee more than Lata Mangeshkar and this created a rift between them.^[13] Sahir promoted his girlfriend, Sudha Malhotra's singing career.^[13] He also insisted that All India Radio credit film song lyricists in its broadcasts.

On 25 October 1980, at the age of fifty-nine, Sahir died of a sudden cardiac death.^[13][5] He was buried at the Juhu Muslim cemetery. In 2010, his tomb was demolished to make room for new interments.^[21]

• Mahmood K. T. (2000) Kalām-i Sāḥir Ludhiyānvī. A collection of Ludhiavni's poetry with English translation.^[22]
• Abbas K. A. (1958) Shadows Speak: (Parchhalyan). 29 pages.^[23]
• Hassan R. (1977) The Bitter Harvest: Selections from Sahir Ludhiavni's Verse. 169 pages.^[22]
• Sucha S. (1989) Sorcery (Sahri): poetry.^[24]
• Gaata jaye Banjara (1992). A collection of film lyrics.
• Bitterness: Talkhiyan

• "Thandi Hawayein Lehrake Aaye" sung by Lata Mangeshkar, composer S. D. Burman in Naujawan (1951).^[13]
• "Jayen To Jayen Kahan" sung by Talat Mahmood, composer S. D. Burman in Taxi Driver (1954).^[13]
• "Aana Hai To Aa", sung by Mohammed Rafi, in Naya Daur (1957) O.P. Nayyar, composer.
• "Saathi Haath Badhana" in Naya Daur (1957), sung by Mohammed Rafi and Asha Bhonsle.
• "Jane Kya Tune Kahi" sung by Geeta Dutt, "Jane Woh Kaise" sung by Hemant Kumar and "Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaye Toh Kya Hai" sung by Mohammed Rafi in Pyaasa (1957) S.D. Burman, composer.^[13]
• "Aurat Ne Janam Diya Mardon Ko" sung by Lata Mangeshkar, in Sadhna (1958) Datta Naik, composer.
• "Chin-o-Arab Hamara Hindustan Hamara", sung by Mukesh in Phir Subah Hogi (1958) Khayyam, composer.^[13][2]
• "Tu Hindu Banega Na Musalman Banega", sung by Mohammed Rafi in Dhool Ka Phool (1959) Datta Naik, composer.
• "Yeh Ishq Ishq Hai", sung by Mohammed Rafi and Manna De in Barsaat Ki Raat (1960) Roshan, composer.
• "Na To Karvan Ki Talash Hai", sung by Mohammed Rafi, Manna De, Asha Bhonsle and Sudha Malhotra in Barsaat Ki Raat (1960) Roshan, composer.
• "Allah Tero Naam Ishwar Tero Naam', sung by Lata Mangeshkar in Hum Dono (1961) Jaidev, composer.^[13]
• "Main Zindagi Ka Sath Nibhata Chala Gaya", Hum Dono (1961) sung by Mohammed Rafi, Jaidev composer.
• "Kabhi Khud Pe Kabhi Haalat Pe Rona Aaya", Hum Dono (1961) sung by Mohammed Rafi, Jaidev, composer.
• "Abhi Na Jao Chhodkar Ke Dil Abhi Bhara Nahin", Hum Dono (1961) sung by Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Jaidev, composer.
• "Chalo Ek Baar Phir Se Ajnabi Ban Jaye Hum Dono', sung by Mahendra Kapoor in Gumrah (1963) Ravi, composer.^[13]
• "Laaga Chunri Mein Daag" sung by Manna Dey in Dil Hi To Hai (1963 film), Roshan as the composer.
• "Aye Meri Zoharjabin", Waqt (1965) sung by Manna Dey, Ravi (music director).
• "Aagey Bhi Jane Na Tu", film Waqt (1965) sung by Asha Bhonsle, Ravi, composer.
• "Tum Agar Saath Dene Ka Wada Karo", sung by Mahendra Kapoor in Hamraaz (1967), Ravi, composer.
• "Neele Gagan Ke Tale", Hamraaz (1967) sung by Mahendra Kapoor, Ravi composer.
• "Ye Dil Tum Bin Kahin Lagata Nahin", Izzat (1968) Lata-Rafi, Laxmikant–Pyarelal.
• "Babul Ki Duaen Leti Ja", sung by Muhammed Rafi in Neelkamal (1968).
• "Man Re Tu Kahe Na Dheer Dhare", sung by Mohammed Rafi and "Sansar Se Bhage Phirte Ho, Bhagwan Ko Tum Kya Paoge" sung by Lata Mangeshkar in Chitralekha (1964) Roshan, composer.
• "Tora Mann Darpan Kehlaye", sung by Asha Bhosle in Kaajal (1965) Ravi, composer.
• "Ishwar Allah Tere Naam", sung by Mohammed Rafi in Naya Raasta (1970) Datta Naik, composer.
• "Chala Bhi Aa Aja Rasiya", Man Ki Aankhe (1970) Lata-Rafi, Laxmikant–Pyarelal.
• "Na Tu Zameen Ke Liye Na Aasaman Ke Liye", Dastaan (1972) Mohammad Rafi, Laxmikant–Pyarelal.
• "Mere Dil Mein Aaj Kya Hai", Daag, (1973) sung by Kishore Kumar, Laxmikant Pyarelal, composer.
• "Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shayar Hoon", sung by Mukesh in Kabhi Kabhi (1976) Khayyam, composer.^[13][2]
• "Kabhie Kabhie Mere Dil Mein Khyal Aata Hai", sung by Mukesh, Lata Mangeshkar in film Kabhi Kabhi (1976), Khayyam, composer.^[2]

The Hindi movie, Pyaasa (1957), is said to be inspired by Sahir's unrequited affection for the Hindi novelist and poet, Amrita Pritam and features several famous songs with lyrics written by him.^[25]

Sahir's life has been chronicled by Sabir Dutt^[26] and by Chander Verma and Dr. Salman Abid in "Main Sahir Hoon"^[10]

Sahir Ludhianvi: the People's Poet by Akshay Manwani^[27] The book is the product of interviews and writings about Sahir by his friends such as Yash Chopra, Dev Anand, Javed Akhtar, Khayyam, Sudha Malhotra, Ravi Chopra and Ravi Sharma. The book also analyses Sahir's poetry and lyrics in the context of his personal life.^[28]

• Hindi film music
• Shakeel Badayuni
• List of Indian poets

• Sahir Ludhianvi at IMDb