22/09/2025
Sahir Ludhianvi: Effortless weaver
Take a song from any genre and you’ll find that this poet excelled beyond comparison. Enchanting the connoisseur as well as the common man, this romantic poet with a progressive streak could strike at the ills of the society as easily as he could entice you with sublime expressions of love in its myriad coloured splendours.
An effortless weaver, Sahir fused the world of film music with sublime expressions of Urdu and Hindi poetry that actually became the nomenclature of the masses. That is why from “Ye Ishq Ishq Hai Ishq” (“Barsaat Ki Raat”), “Nighaein Milane Ko Jee Chahta Hai” (“Dil Hi To Hai”), “Aana Hai To Aa” (“Naya Daur”), “Chehre Pe Khushi Jaa Jaati Hai” (“Waqt”), “Failee Hui Hain Sapnon Ki Baahein” (“House No. 44”), “Aaj Ki Raat Naheen Shikwe Shikaayat Ke Liye” (“Dharmaputra”) to “Raat Bhi Hai Kuch Bheegi Bheegi” (“Mujhe Jeene Do”), “Mere Bhaiyaa, Mere Chanda” (“Kaajal”), “Man Re Tu Kahe Na Dheer Dhare” (“Chitralekha”) and “Wo Subah Kabhi To Aayegi” (“Phir Subah Hogi”), Sahir’s lyrical output is matchless in range of thought as well as moods.
However, beyond his voracious outpourings, Sahir has to be admired for the dignity that he brought forth to the office of the word weavers of cinema. It was his call that led to lyricists and screen writers getting a notable remuneration as well as mention in cinema credits on and off the screen. “A genial giant in real life who literally and figuratively towered above others,” this chain smoking Piscean was extremely generous to fellow writers and artistes with cash and gifts.
For someone who bequeathed his property to several fellow artistes easily, disrespect was non negotiable; a reason which led to severance of ties with S D Burman as well as a diktat to All India Radio and HMV to give names of lyricists on their programmes and albums respectively. Not surprising since at the age of thirteen, Sahir forsake his father’s millions to live with his divorced mother… his pen certainly proved it was more effective and mightier than a sword!
(Article by Deepak Mahaan: the Hindu)
