From Ludhiana to Bollywood: The Life of Lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi

Mumbai, October 24: As the 46th death anniversary of Sahir Ludhianvi approaches on October 25, his life story offers a powerful account of talent, hardship and perseverance. He was a famous Hindi film lyricist, poet and an esteemed Urdu shayar.

Sahir Ludhianvi was born on March 8, 1921, in Ludhiana, in the Indian state of Punjab. His real name was Abdul Hayee. Although his family was once prosperous, the separation of his parents plunged him into difficulties and financial uncertainty.

He received his early education in Ludhiana and then joined a government university to pursue a degree. Even as a young man, he loved writing, and his poetry earned him a reputation on campus. At university he fell in love with Amrita, one of his biggest fans. Her family rejected the proposal outright because of his lack of wealth and his religion, and at her father's insistence, Sahir was expelled from college.

He then took on various small jobs to survive. In 1943, he went to Lahore in Pakistan, where his first poetry collection, 'Talkhiyan', was published. In 1949, he moved to Mumbai. He wrote his first film song for 'Azadi Ki Raah Par', but it was 'Naujawan' that made him truly famous.

He then wrote songs for a range of films, including 'Pyaasa', 'Baazi', 'Jaal', 'Hamraaz', 'Trishul', 'Insaaf Ka Taraazu', 'Kabhi Kabhi', 'Taj Mahal', 'Naujawan' and 'Pyar Ki Pyaas'. He was the first person in Hindi cinema to wage a historic campaign for lyricists to receive royalties on song sales, and he achieved victory.

His finest film songs won him the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist. The government also honoured him with the Padma Shri for his valuable services to the arts. His writing stood out for its portrayal of the pain of the common man, social inequality and deep romance.

Sahir Ludhianvi died of a heart attack on October 25, 1980, at the age of 59. Though he is gone, his words are remembered for generations.