Sahir Ludhianvi - A Poet Who Disliked To Be Called A Lyricist
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
8 March
2023
"Shayar
Ko Apni Shayari Ke Liye Ek Laamahdood Ufaq Milta Hai Jabki Ek Naghma-Nigaar Kai
Bandishon Mein Mubtila Ho Jaata Hai. Haalanki Sahir Unn Bandishon Ko Tod Kar
Aage Nikal Chuke Thay, Phir Bhi Iss Baat Ka Malaal Unhein Taa Umra Raha Ke Unki
Shayari Ke Ek Bahut Bade Hisse Par Filmon Ka Saaya (Mandrata) Raha...."
Adil
Rasheed, Beesveen Sadi, December 1980
Sahir Ludhianvi's 102nd birth
anniversary
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"A
poet gets a limitless horizon for his poetry, whereas a lyricist gets entangled
in a number of limitations. Though Sahir could rise above these constraints, he
rued the fact that the shadow of films loomed large on his poetry...."
Today is
Abdul Hayee, Sahir Ludhianvi's 102nd birth anniversary. At the risk of falling
into the irresistible lure of undesirable Comparison Syndrome, let me state
without mincing words that Sahir (the literal meaning of his Takhallus
is Jaadugar) was the best among the four main poet-lyricists in the
world of Hindi film music. Other three were, Shakeel, Kaifi and Majrooh. Here I
must add that Sahir himself never liked to be called a lyricist. Nor did he
like himself to be compared with his other great coevals in Bombay.
Always a
recluse and disconsolate, Sahir's poetry mirrors his angst and anguish, pain
and pathos, sadness and sufferings, anger and agony : Duniya Ne
Tajurbaat-O-Havadis Ki Shakl Mein/ Jo Kuchh Diya Hai Woh Lauta Raha Hoon Main
(Whatever the world bestowed upon me in the forms of mishaps and musings/I'm
just returning that in the form of poetry).
All poets
are sensitive by nature but Sahir was uber-sensitive. Having to live with a
draconian and unloving father is a nightmare to any child, but in the case of
Sahir, it was doubly traumatic as he saw his mother suffer a lot. That's the
reason, he could write an immortal number like, ' Aurat Ne Janam Diya Mardon
Ko, Mardon Ne Use Baazaar Diya....'
Whether it
was his pure and pristine poetry or cinematic poetry, Sahir could strike a
perfect balance to write, " Utna Hi Upkaar Samajh Koi Jitna Saath
Nibaah De...." (Man Re Tu Kaahe Na Dheer Dhare....Chitralekha). A
lifelong atheist, Sahir always questioned the arbitrary nature of divine
justice: Mera Ilhad Toh Khair Ek Laanat Tha So Hai Ab Tak/ Magar Iss
Aalam-E-Vahshat Mein Iimanon Pe Kya Guzari? (Agreed, my atheism was a
lamentation which shall remain unabated/ But what about those who believed in
some supernatural power?).
Sahir's
philosophical approach to life and a mildly hedonistic spirit made him write, '
Har Fikra Ko Dhuein Mein Udata Chala Gaya...' (Film, Hum Dono). It became
a smoker's anthem and the inexorability of life and fate made it a cult number.
The
connoisseurs of Urdu poetry may have noticed that Sahir started getting
disillusioned with the film world in the
70s. Though his quill produced a gem of a number like 'Sansaar Ki Har Shai
Ka....' ( Dhund, 1973), songs of ' Daagh ' and ' Kabhi-Kabhi,'
he was not enjoying filmi poetry any longer. Somewhere, his eternally sombre
self could relate to Robert Browning's immortal lines, 'I give the fight up,
let there be an end; a privacy, an obscure nook for me. I want to be forgotten
even by god.'
Moreover,
Rafi's death on July 31, 1980 broke Sahir. Rafi was also from Punjab and both
always conversed in Punjabi and never in Urdu. He too soon followed suit on
October 25, 1980 leaving behind a Golconda of exquisite poetry. Someone rightly
said, 'Sahir Aur Bade Shayar Hote Agar Ve Faqat Shayari Karte Aur Apna
Daaman Filmon Se Bacha Kar Rakhte ' (Sahir would have been a greater poet
had he focussed only on poetry and shielded himself from writing for films).
We still
remember you, Sahir Saheb. Lastly, Sahir didn't want to be entombed as he lost
faith in Islam and all bogus man-made faiths. Yet, he was given an Islamic
burial, that too in the presence of his much younger atheist friend Javed
Akhtar. He (Javed) should have intervened. This has always intrigued me.
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/sahir-ludhianvi-poet-lyricist/d/129270