Kaifi Azmi

Kaifi Azmi belonged to the generation who were a part of the Golden era in Hindi movie music primarily during the 50's,60's and some part of the 70's. Along with Shailendra, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Shakeel Badayuni, Sahir Ludhianvi he provided those memorable evergreen classics which we enjoy even today. Also famous as the father of Shabana Azmi, his son Baba Azmi was a noted cinematographer too.

Born to a progressive thinking liberal landlord in Azamgarh, he unfortunately was not able to have a modern English education as per his fathers dreams. He later studied Urdu, Arabic and Persian and became one of the most noted Urdu poets of all times. Though he began writing primarily romantic poetry, his association with Progressive Writers Movement and the Communist Party, motivated him to write poetry that was more socially conscious. His poems began to speak for the disadvantaged, the oppressed and exploited. Though most of his poems were social in nature, yet they had a lot of emotional intensity present in them.

He was not as prolific as his counterparts, but he wrote lyrics for some memorable movies of Hindi cinema like Kaagaz Ke Phool, Haqeeqat, Arth and Pakeezah to name a few. One of his biggest achievements was writing the entire dialogue for Chetan Anand's 1973 movie Heer Ranjha( not to be confused with the terrible Anil Kapoor-Sridevi version later) in verse form. He had an excellent association with Chetan Anand, writing the lyrics for most of his movies. Kaifi was not just a lyricisit, but also a script and dialogue writer. He had written the script, dialogues and lyrics for M.S.Sathyu's 1973 masterpiece on partition, Garam Hawa. Based on Ismat Chugtai's novel, Garam Hawa, is the story of a Muslim shoemaker, who has to decide whether to stay in India or not, after Partition. One of the finest movies on partition, it also marked a splendid performance by Balraj Sahni. He also wrote the dialogues for offbeat movies like Shyam Benegal's Manthan(1973) and Sathyu's Kanneshwara Rama(1977). And he also gave a brilliant performance as an old Muslim person, who dies on December 6, 1992, the day the Babri Masjid was demolished, in the 1995 movie Naseem. This is a very humble tribute from a music lover, on some of my favorite songs of Kaifi Azmi. A very humble tribute to a titan and a colossus.


Anupama was Hrishikesh Mukherjee's 1966 classic, about a young girl( Sharmila Tagore), whose father blames her for his wife's death, and neglects her. She grows up a shy, timid girl, longing for her father's love and affection, while Dharmendra, plays her silent lover. Wonderful, poignant movie, with a beautiful score by Hemant Kumar, and some poignant lyrics by Kaifi. One of my favorite is the Lata solo, Dheere Dheere Machal Ae Dil E Bekaraar, which i would rate as one of her best songs. With a beautiful piano interlude and wonderful orchestration by Hemant Da, this song just remains forever. This is sung in the movie by the character of Sharmila's mother( dont know the actress name). My favorite line in the song
Mujhko Choone Lagi Uski Parchayian
Dil Ke Nazdeek Bajthi Hai Shehnaiyan
Mere Sapne Ke Aangan Mein Gaatha Hai Pyaar
Koi Aatha Hai.

Another favorite of mine from the same movie is Hemant Kumar' solo song, Yaa Dil ki Suno Duniya Waalo, sung by Hemant Da himself and picturized on Dharmendra. He plays a sensitive poet in the movie, and also some one who loves and admires the heroine. This song is a beautiful poetic expression of his emotions, once again Kaifi giving some memorable lines.
Ya Dil ki Suno Duniya Waalon
Ya Mujhko Abhi Cjhup Rehne Do
Main Gam Ko Khushi Kaise Keh Doon
Jo Kehte Hai Unko Kehne Do.
My favorite lines in this song are the ones where the poet hero expresses his helplesness.
Ek Khwab Khushi Ka Dekha Nahin
Dekha Jo Kabhi Tho Bhool Gaye
Mana Hum Tumhe Kuch De Na Sake
Jo Tumne Diya Woh Sehne Do.

Decades back, when Mahesh Bhatt could still make good movies, when he was not looking up to DVD's of Hollywood flicks for inspiration, and when he let his movies speak more than this big mouth, he made some really good movies like Arth, Saaransh. Arth was one of the best movies about extra marital relationships, about the story of an ad movie maker, who is caught up in an affair with a temperemental actress Kavitha( Smita Patil). Shabana Azmi plays Indu, his wife, who finally decides to divorce him. The song here is wonderfully set up. After divorcing her husband, she goes to meet her close friend, played by Raj Kiran, a singer. She pretends to be happy, while hiding the sorrow in her heart. He understands the fact, and that is how he begins the song
Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho
Kya Gam Hai Jisko Chupa Rahe Ho
These lyrics by Kaifi seem simple, but tell a lot
Aankhon Mein Nami, Hansi Labon Par
Kya Haal Hai, Kya Dikha Rahe Ho

Simple lines, but so profound a meaning. Excellent music and singing by Jagjit Singh here. The movie also had other wonderful songs like "Koi Ye Kaise Bataye" and "Jhuki Jhuki Si Nazar".

Haqeeqat a movie about Chetan Anand based on the 1962 Indo China war, is rated as one of India's finest war movies. Featuring an ensemble cast of Priya Rajvansh, Dharmendra, Balraj Sahni, Sanjay Khan, Vijay Anand the movie had a memorable music score by Madan Mohan, and unforgettable lyrics by Kaifi Azmi. While Kar Chale Hum Fida is already well known as a patriotic song, the other song which i adore in this movie is Hoke Majboor Mujhe Usne Bulaya Hoga. This song is sung by Rafi, Talat, Manna Dey and Bhupinder. Picturized on a group of soldiers, who are tired, weary, suffering from cold. As they take shelter in a cave, they reminiscence about their wives and beloved back home. And that is what the first lines are
Hoke Majboor Mujhe Usne Bulaya Hoga
Zeher Chupke Se Dava Jaanke Khaya Hoga
This is a song where it is difficult for me to pick my favorite lines. Every line is imbued with a meaning so poignant and so touching, that whenever i listen to this song, i just cant help feeling moved. This is a song i would rate as one of my all time favorite songs. But some lines i love in this song.
Dil Ne Aese Bhi Kuch Afsane Sunaye Hoge, Ashk Aankhon ne Piye Aur Na Bahaye Hoge
Usne Ghabrake Nazar Laakh Bachayi Hogi, Dil Ki Luthi Hui Duniya Nazar Aayi Hogi
I guess this song deserves a separate post maybe. A truly memorable song written by Kaifi,unforgettable to the core.

Sometime back i was watching Maa Tujhe Salaam, pretty routine Sunny Deol, actioner on Zee. There was a scene, where terrorists attack an Indian outpost, and the sodiers go down fighting. Well picturized scene, but it was the song, that made me watch that scene again and again. That song just elevated an otherwise routine scene to something so poignant. The song i am referring to is Kar Chale Hum Fida from Haqeeqat. To date i rate this song as one of my all time favorites, as well as my favorite patriotic songs. I must have listened to this song umpteen times, but everytime i listen to it, i just cant help feeling that patriotic spirit, that love for one's country. It is tough for me to decide what is better, Rafi's singing, Madan Mohan's music or Kaifi's lyrics. Honestly only Rafi could have rendered it with such passion, i remember Udit Narayan, singing the same song some time back at a show, and it was just so pathetic.
Kar Chale Hum Fida
Jan O Tan Saathiyo
Ab Tumhare Hawale Wathan Saathiyo
Again this is a song where every line is so touching and so moving, that it is just impossible for me to pick one.
"Kat Gaye Sar Hamare To Kuch Kam Nahin, Sar Himalaya Ka Humne Na Jhukne Diya"
"Zinda Rehne Ki Mausam Bahut Hai Magar, Jaan Dene Ki Ruth Roz Aati Nahin"
"Thod Do Haath Agar Haath Utne Lage, Choona Paaye Na Sita Ka Daaman Koi"
Only some one with a passionate love for his nation, could have penned such lines. A salute to Kaifi Saab.

Heer Ranjha was a movie where the dialogue was totally shot in verse. The 1973 Raj Kumar- Priya Rajvansh starrer directed by Chetan Anand, dealt with that famous tragic romance of Punjab. Not to be confused with the terrible 1992 version starring Anil Kapoor and Sridevi. The movie had a memorable musical score by Madan Mohan with some outstanding lyrics again by Kaifi, who also wrote the dialogue for the movie. One of my favorites is again this Lata solo, where she wonderfull expresses the feelings of the heroine towards her beloved.
Milo Na Tum To Hum Ghabaraye
Milo To Aankh Churayen, Humein Kya Ho Gaya Hai,
Tumhein Ko Dil ka Raaz Bathayein
Tumhein se Raaz Chupaye,
Humein Kya Ho Gaya Hai.
Another favorite song of mine from the movie is the tragic solo by Rafi, Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil.

Guru Dutt generally prefered Sahir or Majrooh as the lyricist for most of his movies. But for his 1959 masterpiece Kaagaz Ke Phool, he choose Kaifi as lyricist, who responded wonderfully with some memorable songs. Kaifi's angst ridden lyrics wonderfully captured the dark tone of the movie, the story of a movie maker's love for an actress and his fall from grace. And no song to better sum up the changing nature of time, and the fickle mindedness of fortune than his Geeta Dutt one. So wonderfully does Kaifi's lyrics here express the change of time
Waqt ne Kiye, Kya Haseen Sitam
Tum Rahe Na Tum, Hum Rahe Na Hum
For me the beauty of Kaifi's lyrics was that on the surface they looked so simple, yet they had so much depth. I mean if we take those above 2 lines, they are very simply structured, but the meaning they convey is much more. Again just observe the following lines which show the unknown paths taken by the protagonists.
Jaayenge Kahan, Poochta Nahin
Chal Pade Magar, Raastha Nahin
Kya Talaash Hai Kuch Pata Nahin
Bun Rahe Hai Dil Khwaab Dum Be Dum

Another master piece of a song from the same movie, which shows the fickle minded nature of people around, and how the world treats you is the Rafi solo Arre Dekhi Zamane ki Yaari, Bichadi Sabhi Baari Baari. The lines wonderfull convey the helplessness and frustration of the hero, as he finds people around him leaving one by one, until he is left all alone.
Kya Lekhe Mile Ab Duniya Se, Aanson Ke Siva Kuch Paas Nahin
And this line showing the fickle minded nature
Ya Phool Hi Phool The Daaman Mein, Ya Kaanton Ka Bhi Aas Nahin
Matlab Ki Duniya Hai Saari, Bichde Sabhi Baari Baari.