Tribute to lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri Saab 1919-2000

Majrooh Sultanpuri (17 June 1920 − 24 May 2000) was  one of the dominating musical forces in Indian cinema in the 1950s and early 1960s and was an important figure in the Progressive Writers' Movement. He is considered one of the finest avant-garde Urdu poets of 20th century literature.
Majrooh Sultanpuri was born as Asrar ul Hassan Khan in a Tarin Pashtun family, in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, where his father was posted in the Police Department in either 1919 or 1920. His father, though, a police officer, was not too keen on his son receiving English education and Majrooh was therefore sent for traditional 'Madrasa education'.
which led to his obtaining the qualification first of Dars-e-Nizami - a seven-year course which concentrated on religious affairs along with proficiency in Arabic and Persian- and then the certificate of Alim. He thereafter joined Lucknow's Takmeel-ut-Tib College of Unani.
He was a struggling Hakim when he happened to recite one of his ghazals at a mushaira in Sultanpur. The ghazal was a hit with the audience and Majrooh decided to drop his fledgling medical practice and began writing poetry seriously.
In 1945, Majrooh visited Bombay to attend a mushaira at the Saboo Siddique Institute. Here his ghazals and poetry were highly appreciated by the audience. One of the impressed listeners was film producer A.R. Kardar. Kardar  took him to music composer Naushad who put the young writer to test. He gave Majrooh a tune and asked him to write something in the same metre, and Majrooh wrote Jab Usne Gesu Bikhraye, Badal Aaye Jhoom Ke.... Naushad liked what he wrote and Majrooh was signed on as the lyricist of the film Shah Jehan (1946). Shah Jehan was followed by S. Fazil's Mehndi, Mehboob's Andaaz (1949), and Shahid Latif's Aarzoo. Majrooh went on to write lyrics for popular films throughout the 1956s. Along with Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Majrooh was considered the most notable ghazal writer. Majrooh won his only Filmfare Best Lyricist Award for the song "Chahunga Mein Tujhe Saanj Savere" from Dosti. He was also awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1993. He was the first lyricist to win the prestigious award named after Dadasaheb Phalke.

Majrooh and Nasir Hussain first collaborated on the film Paying Guest, which Nasir wrote. After Nasir turned director and later producer they went on to collaborate in several films, all of which had huge hits and are some of Majrooh's best remembered works,Tumsa Nahin Dekha,Dil Deke Dekho,Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon,Teesri Manzil,Baharon Ke Sapne, Pyar Ka Mausam, Caravan (includes the song Piya Tu Ab To Aaja),Yaadon Ki Baraat,Hum Kisise Kum Naheen,Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai,Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak,Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander, Akele Hum Akele Tum
Majrooh also was instrumental in introducing R.D. Burman to Nasir for Teesri Manzil. The trio worked in 7 of the above-mentioned films. Burman went on to work in 2 more films subsequent to Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai.
Majrooh Sultanpuri had a severe attack of pneumonia and died in Bombay on 24 May 2000.