Jagmohan Singh Barhok

The story of noted Urdu poet & Hindi lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri & his rise to popularity makes interesting reading for his fans & followers.Majrooh was approached by the celebrated Urdu poet Jigar Moradabadi to write songs for producer-director Abdul Rasheed Kardar( Shahjehan, Dulari,Dillagi & Dil Diya Dard Liya fame),then a well known film maker.Kardar had seen him peform at a ‘mushiara’& was instantly impressed by his recitation of poetry.Though,initially hesitant,Majrooh was later persuaded by Jigar to write film songs.He was taken to Naushad who asked him to prepare a song. “Jab Usne Gesu Bikhraye, Badal Aaye Jhoom Ke” was the song which instantly impressed Naushad .Majrooh was asked to write songs for “Shajehan” starring K.L.Saigal,Ragini ,Nasreen & P.Jairaj.It turned out to be the second highest grossing film of 1946 with hits like “Jab Dil He toot Gaya”( K.L.Saigal- Majrooh) & “Gham Diye Mustaqil”( Saigal-Majrooh)) two of my father’s favourite numbers, including ‘Nuktaachin Hai Gam E Dil Usako Sunaaye Na Bane’ (K.L. Saigal-“Yahudi Ki Ladki”)& ‘Nuktaachin Hai Gam E Dil Usako Sunaaye Na Bane’ ((Suraiya-“Mirza Ghalib”). Abdul Rasheed Kardar created history with this film as he also brought into limelight Majrooh & Khumar Barabanki (‘Ae Dil-E-Beqarar Jhum’ & ‘Barbad Na Kar De Kahi’) from the same film.The dialogues spiced with Urdu were indeed a marvel .Kardar’s confidence paid rich dividened as both the lyricists rose to starry status in the years that followed. “Jab Dil He Toot Gaya” became so popular that Saigal later expressed a desire to play it on his funeral.

Majrooh’s association with Nasir Hussain is too well known.He penned many hits for his films starting with Shammi Kapoor & Ameeta Starrer “Tumsa Nahin Dekha” ( 1957) with hits like “Sar Par Topi Laal Hath Me Resham Ka Rumal, Ho Tera Kya Kehna” & “Yun To Hamane Laakh Hasin Dekhe Hain” to mention few.He later penned some scintillating numbers for film “Caravan”(1971) starring Jeetendra,Asha parekh & Helen like “Piya Tu Ab To Aaja” & “Chadti Jawani Meri Chaal Mastani”.Asha Bhosle won the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award (1971) for “Piya Tu Ab To” .R.D. Burman scored the music.

Majrooh’s closeness & relations with composer S.D.Burman are too well known to film buffs.”Aankhon Men Kyaa Ji, Rupahalaa Baadal”, ” Aaja Panchhee Akela Hai”,(Nau Do Gyareh); “Mana Janab Ne Pukara Nahi, Kya Mera Saath Bhi Gawara Nahi”, ” Chhod Do Aanchal Jamaana Kya Kahega” & “O Nigahe Mastana, Dekh Sama Hai Suhana”(Paying Guest) ,”Achchha Ji Main Hari, Chalo Maan Jaao Na”, ” & “Nazar Lagi Raja Tore Bangle Par”( Kala pani), “Jalte Hai Jiske Liye, Teri Aankho Ke Diye”, ” Sun Mere Bandhu Re, Sun Mere Mitwa” & ” Bachpan Ke Din Bhi Kya Din The” from 1959 masterpiece “Sujata” starring Sunil Dutt,Nutan & Shashikala , “Chal Ri Sajani Ab Kya Soche, Kajra Na Beh Jaye Rote Rote” & “Saathi Na Koi Manzil, Diyaa Hai Na Koi Mahafil” ( Bombay Ka Babu) & last but not least “Aasamaan Ke Niche Ham Aaj Apane Pichhe” & “Honthon Men Aisi Baat Main Dabaake Chali Aai” ( Jewel Thief) like gems speaks volumes of their mutual tuning and spirited team work.

Interestingly,the credit for creating some of the most romantically titillating songs also goes to Majrooh like “Sar Pe Topi Lal Haath Mein Resham Ka Roomal”, “Piya Tu Ab To Aa Ja”, “Bade Hain Dil Ke Kaale”, ” O Hasinaa Zulfon Vaali Jaan E Jahaan”, ” Aaja Aaja Mai Hu Pyar Tera”, “Raat Akeli Hai Bujh Gaye Diye” (Jo Bhi Chaahe Kahiye),”Ye Hai Reshami, Zulfon Kaa Andheraa Na Ghabaraaiye”, “Ye Reshamee Julfe, Ye Sharabatee Aankhe”( Mere Sanam), “Likha Hai Teree Aankho Me, Kisaka Afasaana”, “Are Yaar Meree Tum Bhee Ho Gajab” , “Chunri Sambhal Gori”, “Bhalii-Bhalii Sii Ek Surat Bhala Sa Ik Naam”, “Bachna Ae Haseenon Lo Main Aa Gaya” & “Bangle Ke Pichhe Teri Beri Ke Niche Hay Re Piya Aha Re Aha Re piya -Kanta Laga”.It was later remixed as ” Kanta Laga” picturised on Shefali Zariwala for the T-Series much publicized Album.

As a song writer Majrooh also penned many touching songs, too, like-“Ham Intazaar Karenge, Tera Qayamat Tak”, “Hui Shaam Unkaa Kayaal Aa Gayaa”, “Jaiye Aap Kahan Jaayenge, Ye Nazar Laut Ke Fir Aayegi”, “Aapne Yaad Dilaya To Mujhe Yaad”, “Aise To Na Dekho Ke Humko Nasha Ho Jaye”, “Shaam-E-Gham Ki Kasam”, “Jalte Hain Jiske Liye Teri Aankhon Ke Diye”, ” Tu Kahe Agar Jiwan Bhar Main Geet Sunata” (Andaz-1949 ), “Dil Jo Na Kah Saka, Vahi Raaz-E-Dil, Kahne Ki Raat Aayi,’, “Kabhi To Milegi, Kahi To Milegi, Baharo Ki Manzil Rahi”, “Ab Kya Misaal Doon Main Tumhare Shabaab Ki” & “Chal Ri Sajani Ab Kya Soche, Kajra Na Beh Jaye Rote Rote” to mention some.

Majrooh Sultanpuri wrote endless songs but was bestowed once for his number “Chahoonga Main Tujhe Saanj Savere”(Dosti) in 1964. “Jane Valo Jara Mud Ke Dekho Mujhe”,” Mera Toh Jo Bhee Kadam Hain”,” Koyee Jab Rah Naa Paye Mere Sang Aaye, Meri Dosti Mera Pyar” were other songs from the film.The film was produce by Tarachand Barjatya, directed by Satyen Bose with music score by Laxmikant Pyarelal. The film won Six Filmfare Awards out of Seven nominations. However, the lyricist was lucky enough to receive the first ever Dadasaheb Phalke Award bestowed to a song writer in 1993.The Municipal Corporation of Sultanpur built a garden “Majrooh Sultanpuri Udyaan” as a tribute to the legendary lyricist of the town near diwani chauraha. Died 24 May,2000.