Translated from: ‘Gaata Rahe Mera Dil’ by Salil Dalal, published by Satya Media. Permission for putting up this post has been sought from Satya Media via email. No response has been received as yet. If Satya Media decides to disallow posting of this passage, this post will be taken down.

SAHIR LUDHIANVI

The Case of the Borrowed Song

Krishna Chander was the dialogue-writer for the film ‘Doraha’. His was a big name in Urdu literature. He obtained permission from Prem Dhawan, the film’s lyricist, to get Sahir an entry in the film as another lyricist. But Prem Dhawan is rumoured to have extracted a favour in return. Nobody is quite certain, but one song was mentioned in hushed tones in this context. Like ‘Doraha’, the Dilip Kumar-Madhubala starrer ‘Tarana’ also had music by Anil Biswas. Prem Dhawan is said to have borrowed a song from Sahir – who was eager to gain a foothold in films in those days – and credited himself with it. Those who have heard and known Sahir’s poetry and Prem Dhawan’s other songs, at least the other ‘Tarana’ songs, can realize that the poetry in this song was coloured by Sahir’s style. Which is that song?

सीने मे सुलगते हैं अरमां, आंखों में उदासी छाई है
ये आज तेरी दुनिया से हमें तकदीर कहां ले आई है

siine me.n sulagate hai.n aramaa.N, aa.Nkho.n me.n udaasii chhaa_ii hai,
ye aaj terii duniyaa se hame.n taqadiir kahaa.N le aa_ii hai

This song, rendered by Talat Mahmood and Lata Mangeshkar, though credited to Prem Dhawan, was actually created by Sahir. This fact became well-known later in the world of film music. ‘Tarana’ had three lyricists: D. N. Madhok, Prem Dhawan, and Kaif Irfani. A fourth name – that of Sahir – could have been added. With सीने मे सुलगते हैं अरमां (siine me.n sulagate hai.n aramaa.N) becoming the most popular song of the film, the strength of Sahir’s pen in achieving popularity was tested successfully, although in another’s name!

Note: Devanagari script typed on Monusoft Type Pad