Home | April '99 Index

Date: 5-Apr-99
Poet: Majrooh Sultanpuri

Born in 1919 in Azamgadh in the district of Sultanpur, 
'Majrooh' Sultanpuri's real name is Israr ul Hasan. He 
is well known as a lyricist in Hindi films. His songs 
have been been sung by singers from almost all eras 
- from K.L.Saigal to present-day singers. 

Majrooh Sultanpuri belongs to the group of Urdu poets 
who mastered the art of balancing commercialism with 
art. Others who belonged to this group were Sahir 
Ludhianvi, Shakeel Badayuni, Kaifi Azmi, Jan Nissar 
Akhtar. However, unlike the aforementioned poets, 
Majrooh never really got his due in the field of Urdu 
poetry and was considered primarily a lyricist. Another 
poet who faced the same fate was Hasrat Jaipuri.

Majrooh Sultanpuri published two compilations of his
poetry: 'Gazal' and 'Taseeren'.

mujhe sahal ho ga_ii.n ma.nzile.n vo havaa ki ruKh bhii badal gaye
teraa haath haath me.n aa gayaa ki chiraaG raah me.n jal gaye

[sahal = easy; ruKh = direction]

vo lajaaye mere savaal par ke uThaa sake na jhukaa ke sar
u.Dii zulf chehare pe is tarah ki shabo.n ke raaz machal gaye

mere kaam aa ga_ii aaKhirash yahii kaaviishe.n yahii gardishe.n
ba.Dhii is qadar merii ma.nzile.n ki qadam ke Khaar nikal gaye

[aaKhirash = finally, in the end; kaavishe.n = difficulties]
[gardish = bad time; Khaar = thorn]