Tribute to Shakeel Badayuni, Hindi cinema’s one of the most shining lyricists and poets, on his 49th death anniversary today.

Tribute to Shakeel Badayuni, Hindi cinema’s one of the most shining lyricists and poets, on his 49th death anniversary today.

Shakeel Badayuni was one of the famous Urdu poets and lyricists of 50s and 60s. He is best remembered for most of his songs with music director Naushad.

The most important characteristic of songs of Shakeel Badayuni is their variety and diversity. Shakeel wrote ghazals, geet, poorbi songs, bhajans, naats, qawwali, and sad numbers.

Shakeel Badayuni was born at Badayun, Uttar Pradesh on August 3, 1916. After getting early education at home, he graduated from Aligarh Muslim University in 1942. After graduation, he got a clerical job in the Supply department and started living in Delhi. Meanwhile, when working in Delhi, he continued to participate in mushairas happening nearby the city. In 1944, he left his Government job and moved to Bombay to become a lyricist.

Shakeel moved to Bombay in 1944 to write songs for films. He met film producer, A.R. Kardar and music composer, Naushad Ali who asked him to sum up his poetic skills in one line. Shakeel wrote, “Hum dard Ka Afsana Duniya Ko Suna Denge, Har Dil Mein Mohabbat Ki Ek Aag Laga Denge”. Naushad immediately signed him for Kardar’s film, Dard (1947). The songs of Dard proved to be very successful especially Uma Devi (Tun Tun)’s “Afsana Likh Rahi Hoon”. Only a few are so lucky that they attain success in their first film, but Shakeel deserved success which started with Dard and continued on over the years.

Together, he and Naushad became one of the most sought after composer/lyricist duos in the industry. Among the scores they churned out together, are those of Deedar (1951), Baiju Bawra (1952), Mother India (1957), and Mughal-e-Azam (1960), that stand out. Other films they scored together include Dulari (1949), Shabab (1954), Ganga Jamuna(1961), and Mere Mehboob (1963). Although Shakeel Badayuni worked most extensively with Naushad, he also collaborated with Ravi and Hemant Kumar as well. His notable films with Ravi are Gharana (1961) and Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), while Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) is his biggest hit with Hemant Kumar.

Shakeel won three Filmfare Awards in a row from 1961 to 1963 for his songs ‘Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil’ (Bees Saal Baad), ‘Husnwaale Tera Jawab Nahin’ (Gharana) and ‘Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho’ (Chaudhvin Ka Chand). He was also nominated for films Mere Mehboob and Do Badan.

A postage stamp was released on 3 May 2013 by India Post to honor him.

Shakeel Badayuni, the master of poetry, passed away on 20th April 1970.