Poets like Majrooh Sultanpuri pass this way just once. Farhana Farook takes you through the life and times of Hindi cinema’s most prolific lyricist
(OCTOBER 1, 1919 − MAY 24, 2000)
Hamaare baad ab mehfil mein afsaane bayaan honge, bahaare hum ko dhoondhegi, na jaane hum kahaan honge…
The lyrics, about looking back and moving forward, written by Majrooh Sultanpuri for Baghi (1953), sum up the poet’s wistfulness. Someone who fought hard not to let reality obscure his romanticism. Someone who understood that while infinitude is an ideal, everything eventually blurs given the transience of time.
Asrar ul Hasan Khan took on the name ‘Majrooh’ – meaning wounded – as his penname and almost lived it. An important figure in the Progressive Writers’ Movement, he was wounded by the post Independence let down. He was wounded by the fact that he wasn’t given his due as a poet-lyricist considering he was the most prolific and enduring amongst his peers. He remained wounded by personal tragedies and never being able to relinquish his responsibilities as a provider…
As part of the formidable quartet of lyricists, Sahir Ludhianvi, Shakeel Badayuni and Shailendra between 1950-60, Majrooh’s career, spanned five decades and around 300 films. From K.L. Saigal to Shah Rukh Khan, his words assumed the lexis of every generation. They could convey the sensuality of a mujra, the seduction of a cabaret. They could spawn dreams and stir passion. They could evoke love and soften rejection. Majrooh simply didn’t allow age to crease his heart and art. What better proof of his immutability than the fact that Monica O my darling… continues to top the party-hopper’s podcast five decades after it was written…
PRODIGIOUS POET
This story is from the September 2019 edition of Filmfare.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2019 edition of Filmfare.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
FIRST AMONG EQUALS
DEVESH SHARMA OFFERS A SHORT PROFILE OF ALL THE WINNERS FROM THE RECENTLY HELD 69TH HYUNDAI FILMFARE AWARDS 2024 WITH GUJARAT TOURISM
AMIT DHARIWAL: RIDING HIGH ON A SLEW OF ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESSES
Amit Dhariwal, a prominent figure in both Indian and Dubai's real estate sectors, stands as the Managing Director of Hridaan Realty.
ANAND PANDIT: STRADDLING THE WORLDS OF CINEMA AND REAL ESTATE WITH SUCCESS
Anand Pandit is a multifaceted showman, a pan-Indian film producer, a real estate magnate, and an entrepreneur with what is often referred to as the \"Midas touch\". Born into a traditional Gujarati business family, Anand Pandit has scripted an extraordinary journey marked by grit, vision, resilience, and conviction.
ENRICHING LIVES
AMWAY INDIA WAS A CO-SPONSOR OF THE RECENTLY HELD 69TH HYUNDAI FILMFARE AWARDS 2024 WITH GUJARAT TOURISM
BRIDGING TRADITION WITH MODERN TRAVEL TRENDS
HOMESTAYS MAKE FOR AN IDYLLIC BREAK FOR TRAVELLERS IN UTTARAKHAND WHILE STRENGTHENING THE RURAL ECONOMY OF THE STATE
REKINDLING SPIRITUAL SPLENDOUR IN UTTARAKHAND
AT THE HEART OF UTTARAKHAND CHIEF MINISTER PUSHKAR SINGH DHAMI'S MANASKHAND MANDIR MALA MISSION, IS THE DEDICATION TO RESTORE THE ESSENCE OF SEVERAL TEMPLES SPREAD ACROSS THE KUMAON AREA
WELCOME TO GUJARAT!
THE 69TH HYUNDAI FILMFARE AWARDS 2024 WITH GUJARAT TOURISM WERE HELD IN GIFT CITY, GUJARAT THIS YEAR. DEVESH SHARMA GIVES A BIRD'S EYE VIEW ACCOUNT OF THE MEGA EVENT
VIBRANT GUJARAT!
CELEBRATING CINEMATIC TOURISM AT THE 69TH HYUNDAI FILMFARE AWARDS 2024 WITH GUJARAT TOURISM
BOND WITH THE BEST
HYUNDAI MOTOR INDIA LIMITED HAS BEEN THE TITLE SPONSOR FOR THE 69TH HYUNDAI FILMFARE AWARDS 2024 WITH GUJARAT TOURISM
ON A Song
Chaleya and Besharam Rang were the most celebrated and popular tracks of 2023. What do you have to say about the success of the songs?