Majrooh Sultanpuri (1919-2000) was called Mir Taqi Mir of Urdu poetry, as someone who had fully internalized the legacy of ghazal writing. The humanistic aspects of Marxism are very much present in his poetry. He was a poet of the people, which is what he wanted to be. He had one slim volume of poetry that he expanded every few years. Since some of the keywords were common among the progressives, some readers felt that some of Majrooh’s couplets sounded like Faiz wrote them. His significant contributions to the Indian film industry through his lyrics were recognized when he received the Dada Sahib Phalke Award. Jigar Moradabadi introduced him to the film industry, but after he wrote lyrics for the film Shah Jahan, sung by legendary K.L. Saigal, there was nothing to hold him back. His composition Jab Dil Hi Tuut Gaya became so popular that K.L. Saigal wanted this ghazal to be played at his funeral. The last part of Majrooh’s life was complex and challenging. He was not getting as much attention from film producers as before and was not healthy. Just before his death, he told poet Javed Akhtar, “I have been trying to sell mirrors to the blind in this city.”
For more about Urdu Ghazal poetry, please see:
Gopi Chand Narang, Translation by Surinder Deol. The Urdu Ghazal: A Gift of India’s Composite Culture.New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2020.
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