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Sahir Ludhianvi - The peoples poet
Sahir Ludhianvi is probably the only songwriter in Hindi films whose poetry was accepted in its purest form and incorporated as a film song. So great was his stature as an Urdu poet that he never had to mould his poetry to suit the demands of film songwriting; instead, producers and composers adapted their requirements to his poetry.
His songs in films like Pyaasa, Naya Daur and Phir Subah Hogi have attained the status of classics.
This exhaustive biography traces the poet’s rich life, from his troubled childhood and his equally troubled love relationships, to his rise as one of the pre-eminent personalities of the Progressive Writers Movement and his journey as lyricist through the golden era of Hindi film music, the 1950s and 1960s.
His songs in films like Pyaasa, Naya Daur and Phir Subah Hogi have attained the status of classics.
This exhaustive biography traces the poet’s rich life, from his troubled childhood and his equally troubled love relationships, to his rise as one of the pre-eminent personalities of the Progressive Writers Movement and his journey as lyricist through the golden era of Hindi film music, the 1950s and 1960s.
340 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 10, 2020
Akshay Manwani has documented a poet’s life, his transformation from Punjab’s Abdul Hayee to Bombay’s Sahir Ludhianvi. Read the complete review here https://wp.me/p6rxcY-4S.
December 30, 2017
Sahir Ludhianvi's genius is probably not known to my generation who has grown up in the 90's and the only lyricist names that are familiar to us are Gulzar and Javed Akthar. Sahir has perhaps written some of the best songs in Hindi cinema which have become ever lasting gems. Its only while reading this book that I came to know that my favorite classic songs were written by him e.g.Abhi na Jao Chodkar or Chalo ek baar phir sey or the evergreen Kabhi Kabhi. Sahir blended social political leanings in his songs and also was a whimsical man. His scuffles with music directors and singers are well highlighted. The man always felt the role of lyricist is more important than a music director and fought for equal and higher credit for lyricists. The chapter on his romance with Amrita Pritam is just melancholic because you really wish these beautiful creative souls deserved a happy ending.
Sahir was man who felt everything deeply and as written needed some really life situation to inspire him whether it was the political situation or his personal life tragedies. A man who made a name for himself on his own terms and believed in his skill and worked with everyone possible. His association with the Chopras is another well highlighted chapter and make you wonder that only a genius can write such a self aware song on the life a poet Main Pal do Pal ka shayar hoon.
Sahir was man who felt everything deeply and as written needed some really life situation to inspire him whether it was the political situation or his personal life tragedies. A man who made a name for himself on his own terms and believed in his skill and worked with everyone possible. His association with the Chopras is another well highlighted chapter and make you wonder that only a genius can write such a self aware song on the life a poet Main Pal do Pal ka shayar hoon.
March 13, 2020
Want an objective look at a flawed genius? Then this is the book for you.
My longer review here:
https://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.com/...
My longer review here:
https://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.com/...
October 21, 2021
Sahir Ludhianvi by Akshay Manwani
The world of Bollywood songs is a mystery, an enigma. Almost every film is bursting with songs which may be sung by any character in the film or be played in the background or even appear in a dream. Most of them are romantic in nature but in reality, several are timeless and evergreen numbers. They transcend from the reel and enter the realm of real! You will find a song which you can relate to each and every situation in life.
For this the credit must go to the lyricist. Unfortunately, he's the least celebrated of the trio, the other two being the singer and music composer. The latter two are the body of the song and the lyricist is the soul of the song. No wonder he is the least known.
I'm amazed and shocked that I came to read about Sahir at such a late date in my life. But that has only increased my respect for lyricists in general and Sahir in particular.
I found this book immensely readable. Akshay Manwani writes about the 'timelessness in Sahir’s poetry, his ability to give the film song an unmatched poetic quality and an intellectual quotient.'
He was one of the many poets who wrote poetry for film songs. No wonder Hindi film songs find a place in the heart of Indians.
The world of Bollywood songs is a mystery, an enigma. Almost every film is bursting with songs which may be sung by any character in the film or be played in the background or even appear in a dream. Most of them are romantic in nature but in reality, several are timeless and evergreen numbers. They transcend from the reel and enter the realm of real! You will find a song which you can relate to each and every situation in life.
For this the credit must go to the lyricist. Unfortunately, he's the least celebrated of the trio, the other two being the singer and music composer. The latter two are the body of the song and the lyricist is the soul of the song. No wonder he is the least known.
I'm amazed and shocked that I came to read about Sahir at such a late date in my life. But that has only increased my respect for lyricists in general and Sahir in particular.
I found this book immensely readable. Akshay Manwani writes about the 'timelessness in Sahir’s poetry, his ability to give the film song an unmatched poetic quality and an intellectual quotient.'
He was one of the many poets who wrote poetry for film songs. No wonder Hindi film songs find a place in the heart of Indians.
September 4, 2021
We have all probably experienced and enjoyed the genius of Sahir Ludhianvi, even if at times being incognizance of the source. Bollywood music consumption is centered a lot around just singers and worse, at times with actors that lip sync them on screen. Music directors and lyricists mostly remain in background and not mentioned in general appreciation of a song. The numerous songs penned by Sahir in what is called the golden era of bollywood music, make you go 'oh this too is his song!' and the list doesn't seem to end. The book covers the personality and life of this intriguing poet and meticulously linking his experiences and ideologies with the poems and songs that he wrote. Not only does it make for an interesting standalone read but also as a reference to go back to various works of his in and outside of Bollywood songwriting.
March 27, 2014
Finally, after a long time, a biography of a Bollywood personality which is not a hack job or just plain coloured by the worldview of the author.
Akshay Manwani does a fabulous job of fleshing out the man, the poet, the lyricist that was Sahir Ludhianvi. The inspirations behind some of Sahir's most famous nazms, couplets and song lyrics are discussed in detail. His personal life and persona both are an intrinsic part of the book and are in no way brushed aside. It was a revelation reading the book and I would recommend it to anyone who has even a fleeting interest poetry or movies for that matter.
Akshay Manwani does a fabulous job of fleshing out the man, the poet, the lyricist that was Sahir Ludhianvi. The inspirations behind some of Sahir's most famous nazms, couplets and song lyrics are discussed in detail. His personal life and persona both are an intrinsic part of the book and are in no way brushed aside. It was a revelation reading the book and I would recommend it to anyone who has even a fleeting interest poetry or movies for that matter.
April 5, 2020
3.5/5 A well-written book on one of India’s greatest lyricists. While this well-received book had been on my to-read list for some time, picked it up after listening to Javed Akhtar speak on Sahir in Jashn-e-Rekhta (online).
The evolution of the poet and his time in the film industry have been well documented and analysed. This has been done with liberal doses of his poetry. Wish that there were fewer typos and that he had given the meanings of difficult Urdu words (instead of entire poems in English).
I skimmed the chapter on his affairs with Amrita Pritam, Sudha Malhotra & co. Otherwise the coverage of his personal life was perfect!
The evolution of the poet and his time in the film industry have been well documented and analysed. This has been done with liberal doses of his poetry. Wish that there were fewer typos and that he had given the meanings of difficult Urdu words (instead of entire poems in English).
I skimmed the chapter on his affairs with Amrita Pritam, Sudha Malhotra & co. Otherwise the coverage of his personal life was perfect!
February 3, 2014
Some errors in transliteration and translation aside, an engrossing read. Highly recommended if you like the poetry for Sahir Ludhianvi. My full review here:
http://dustedoff.wordpress.com/2014/0...
http://dustedoff.wordpress.com/2014/0...
October 27, 2017
Rating- 3.5/5
To me the biggest plus of this book was a peek into the mind of the man behind the lyrics and of the life that shaped him. The second big plus are the lyrics or snapshots from many different shers and songs written by him, many of which I had not heard or was not familiar with. I particularly enjoyed the first-person accounts of Sahir fascinating. The depth and the sincerity of research that must have gone into this book is also a big plus.
There were also a couple of things I did not like. The biggest among them and the one which stuck out for me was that I felt some of the English translations were either plain wrong or just could not capture the exact mood of the original (of course, this is difficult).
Second, I also feel that the organization/outline of the book was a little messy as in, it starts off with Sahir's life/autobiography then from a certain period mixes his life with his poetry from that time to better explain the genesis of a particular piece and ends with chapters which look at his work from various angles while also having snippets of his life and idiosyncrasies. Somehow, I found this hodgepodge getting in the way of a linear, easy to absorb reading experience.
Third, the book seemed to get a little repetitive towards the end where his writing in various songs being analysed through the same lenses and with pretty similar language.
However, if you are seriously interested in Sahir Ludhianvi or the history of Indian songwriting or even just interested in Bollywood in general, I'd say this book is a must for you.
To me the biggest plus of this book was a peek into the mind of the man behind the lyrics and of the life that shaped him. The second big plus are the lyrics or snapshots from many different shers and songs written by him, many of which I had not heard or was not familiar with. I particularly enjoyed the first-person accounts of Sahir fascinating. The depth and the sincerity of research that must have gone into this book is also a big plus.
There were also a couple of things I did not like. The biggest among them and the one which stuck out for me was that I felt some of the English translations were either plain wrong or just could not capture the exact mood of the original (of course, this is difficult).
Second, I also feel that the organization/outline of the book was a little messy as in, it starts off with Sahir's life/autobiography then from a certain period mixes his life with his poetry from that time to better explain the genesis of a particular piece and ends with chapters which look at his work from various angles while also having snippets of his life and idiosyncrasies. Somehow, I found this hodgepodge getting in the way of a linear, easy to absorb reading experience.
Third, the book seemed to get a little repetitive towards the end where his writing in various songs being analysed through the same lenses and with pretty similar language.
However, if you are seriously interested in Sahir Ludhianvi or the history of Indian songwriting or even just interested in Bollywood in general, I'd say this book is a must for you.
July 22, 2018
Jaane woh kaise log thay jinke pyaar ko pyaar mila.
Kya miliye aise logon se jinki fitrat chupi rahe.
Babul ki duayein leti ja.
Kabhi kabhi mere dil main khayal aata hai.
Sir jo tera chakraye.
Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gya.
Keh dun tumhein ya chup rahun.
The list is endless!
Well, you might remember the person who've rendered their voice for these evergreen songs but not many care to find out about the person who's taken the pain to carve out the words which are then woven into a befitting tune.
Sahir is the man! The person about whom Gulzar says:-
"Sahir is the only poet whose songs became successful because of his lyrics and not because of the tune or the singer , as was usually the case. In the history of hindi cinema the phenomenon of a lyricist succeeding entirely on his own terms happened only with Sahir."
I will give this book a perfect five and I won't mind it reading again. The author successfully portays the in's and out's of Sahir - the person, his struggles as a child, his association with the Progressive writers association and his egoistic attitude which led to the famed lyricist parting ways with stalwarts such as SD Burman, OP Nayyar and Lata Mangeshkar.
The book is a must read and a brilliant choice for a gift.
Kya miliye aise logon se jinki fitrat chupi rahe.
Babul ki duayein leti ja.
Kabhi kabhi mere dil main khayal aata hai.
Sir jo tera chakraye.
Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gya.
Keh dun tumhein ya chup rahun.
The list is endless!
Well, you might remember the person who've rendered their voice for these evergreen songs but not many care to find out about the person who's taken the pain to carve out the words which are then woven into a befitting tune.
Sahir is the man! The person about whom Gulzar says:-
"Sahir is the only poet whose songs became successful because of his lyrics and not because of the tune or the singer , as was usually the case. In the history of hindi cinema the phenomenon of a lyricist succeeding entirely on his own terms happened only with Sahir."
I will give this book a perfect five and I won't mind it reading again. The author successfully portays the in's and out's of Sahir - the person, his struggles as a child, his association with the Progressive writers association and his egoistic attitude which led to the famed lyricist parting ways with stalwarts such as SD Burman, OP Nayyar and Lata Mangeshkar.
The book is a must read and a brilliant choice for a gift.
November 8, 2018
This book gives a good deal of information about life of Sahir Ludhianvi. Many good lyrics of Sahir are also printed along with their translation. While translating poetry from one language to another, usually something is lost in translation. In this book, a lot is lost in translation.
At the end of the book a timeline of major events in Sahir's life is given. This is followed by a very large list (49 pages) of Film songs written by Sahir, a Select Bibliography, and an Index of Poems and Film Songs. It is a good book to know some factual information about the events in Sahir's life and also some aspects of his character.
At the end of the book a timeline of major events in Sahir's life is given. This is followed by a very large list (49 pages) of Film songs written by Sahir, a Select Bibliography, and an Index of Poems and Film Songs. It is a good book to know some factual information about the events in Sahir's life and also some aspects of his character.
July 13, 2021
This was a rare opportunity to understand a complex talent and appreciate his work within the context of he time it was created. He should be taught in school and I loved the magic of his words especially his themes of revolution, oppression & unrequited love. This book is well researched and we hear the voices of many. His immortal words inspires us to live life as it should be. He should be remembered as the artiste he was.
October 6, 2021
It is a shame that we don't have many books/interviews of film personalities outside of actors (and a few directors). Music directors, lyricists, cinematographers, editors, and so many more. This is an honest attempt to bridge some of that gap by bringing forward both the professional and personal side of a genius like Sahir.
July 13, 2021
I am personally a very big admirer of Sahir Ludhiyanvi. It goes without saying that a great person must have lived a phenomenal life and so does Sahir.
Akshay Manwani did a great job in telling some of the untold facts about his life. Kudos to him for this work.
Akshay Manwani did a great job in telling some of the untold facts about his life. Kudos to him for this work.
April 6, 2022
always been a big fan of sahir's film work, but this helped me a lot to get to know more about his non-film poetry and appreciate it in a way that i think i might have never could, which i'm really grateful for
May 1, 2018
This biography introduced me to Sahir Ludhviani the poet, socialist and seeker of love.
February 18, 2021
Wonderful read
March 21, 2017
Kudos to the writer for covering the man and his work with such detail and dedication. Here is someone I wish who covers more artists from our film industry.
June 4, 2016
The book is a very good account of Sahir Ludhianvi and his non conformist ways. He was the one who got lyricists their dues with the name of the lyricist being announced along with the music directors and singers on All India radio. Sahir is the one who had the courage not to work with Lata Mangeshkar for 2 years as also charge a fee which was one rupee more than the music directors. The book is an easy read and it also carries the translation in English for many of his songs and poems.
On a separate note, a play on Sahir's love affair with Amrita Pritam is still running in Mumbai to packed houses. This book is a must read for someone who calls himself a Bollywood buff.
On a separate note, a play on Sahir's love affair with Amrita Pritam is still running in Mumbai to packed houses. This book is a must read for someone who calls himself a Bollywood buff.
July 28, 2014
Great account on the life and times of one of the best poets and hindi film lyricists of our time. Many gems in to refer to. Reading hindi/Urdu in English is a bit inconvenient; however. Especially if followed by the English transliteration. In hindsight; this would have been even more enjoyable as an audiobook. Wonder if Talkhiyan and Parchiyan exist in audiobook form. Must read for Sahir fans; nevertheless
February 4, 2014
Sahir Ludhianvi: The People’s Poet justifies a life that was no less than a Hindi film full of drama, tragedy, romance, love, joy, song, music, and especially in the case of Sahir, the dominance of the “Maa factor”. You not only get a glimpse into the life of one of the most prolific poets of the last century but the book doubles as a collection of some of his best works.
Full review - http://tickertalksfilm.blogspot.in/20...
Full review - http://tickertalksfilm.blogspot.in/20...
June 16, 2016
excellent addition to Indian filmography on one of the most influential personalities of Hindi cinema it's a exploration of the author investigation of the lyricist life and not exactly from a insider but nevertheless the book has a strange touching quality of sincerity worthy addition to my library.
February 2, 2016
It's the best way to get acquainted with Sahir, his life and his inspirations. I wish the poetry/songs in the book were printed in Devnagari and not transliterated.
March 4, 2014
Detailed Review here: http://www.anureviews.com/sahir-ludhi...
December 9, 2017
Engaging profile of the legendary lyricist and socially-conscious poet, Sahir Ludhianvi. Nicely details his complex personality and links it to the emotional depth in his lyrics and the social revolt in his poems, with examples and translations. It's interesting to see how much of himself and his views he kept in his film lyrics, seemingly written for film characters and situations, making them universal and timeless in the process.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews