Sahir Ludhianvi at 100
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| Sahir Ludhianvi — poet, lyricist and one of the most distinctive voices of Urdu poetry in Hindi cinema |
Today, 08/03/2021, marks the 100th birth anniversary of Sahir Ludhianvi. Though widely known as a lyricist in the Hindi film industry, he was essentially a poet of great merit.
He wrote passionately about the underdog, and his poetry acquired a sharp edge when he addressed the declining values of society, the senselessness of war and politics, and the growing domination of consumerism over love. Even his love songs, often tinged with sorrow, reflected his realisation that there were other, harsher realities more important than love.
Thus he could write these memorable lines on the Taj Mahal, questioning the arrogance of monarchy:
Ek Shahenshah ne daulat ka sahara lekar,
Hum ghareebon ki mohabbat ka udaya hai mazaaq.
Jawaharlal Nehru and Sahir shared a mutual admiration, and with his strong socialist leanings Sahir naturally resonated with Nehru’s vision of a new India. That spirit is captured in the hopeful words:
"Woh subah kabhi to aayegi."
His personal life, however, carried its share of sadness. His mother, Sardar Begum, had an acrimonious separation from his father when Sahir was twelve. After losing a bitter custody case, his father was estranged from him, and mother and son endured years of financial hardship. Sahir remained deeply attached to his mother and carried a lasting resentment toward his father.
Perhaps this emotional complexity also shaped his relationships. The intense love between Sahir and Amrita Pritam never reached a fulfilling conclusion. He could never fully accept her into his life, though she continued to love him long after they had parted ways.
Like many artists, Sahir was temperamental and fiercely protective of his craft. He insisted that lyricists should receive proper credit on All India Radio broadcasts. He even demanded to be paid one rupee more than Lata Mangeshkar for a song — a symbolic gesture to assert the importance of the lyricist.
This stance made him controversial and sometimes cost him professional relationships. Yet he remained firm in his conviction that film scores should be composed for the lyrics, and not the other way around.
He died at the age of fifty-nine after a cardiac arrest. Years of drinking and smoking had taken their toll. His close friend Javed Akhtar was by his side at the end.
He left behind a remarkable legacy. Each of us probably carries one or two of his songs as personal favourites. Mine is “Chalo ek baar phir se” — a song that captures the quiet dignity of unfulfilled love.
Perhaps his legacy is best expressed in his own words from the film Kabhi Kabhie:
कल और आयेंगे नग़्मों की खिलती कलियाँ चुनने वाले,
मुझसे बेहतर कहने वाले,
तुमसे बेहतर सुनने वाले;
कल कोई उनको याद करे,
क्यों कोई मुझको याद करे?
मसरूफ़ ज़माना मेरे लिए क्यों
वक़्त अपना बर्बाद करे?
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