Sahir Ludhianvi was an Urdu poet and a popular Hindi lyricist, well known in the field of Indian Cinema. Probably the finest example of a poet rooted in classic Urdu poetry making it big as a popular songwriter is Sahir Ludhianvi. He is a well known name in Hindi cinema. Born as Abdul Hayee in Ludhiana, Sahir Ludhianvi has efficiently composed two poetry anthology series and many other books as well. He had also worked as a journalist in Delhi and was a member of the Progressive Writer?s Association (PWA). Sahir Ludhianvi twice received the Filmfare Award for his amazing compositions in the year 1964 and again in 1977. Moreover, he was also awarded the Padma Shri in 1971.

Early Life of Sahir Ludhianvi
Sahir Ludhianvi was born in a wealthy family as a Muslim Gujjar on 8th March, 1921 in Ludhiana, Punjab. Sahir studied at and graduated from Khalsa High School in Ludhiana. Upon matriculation, he joined the Satish Chander Dhawan Government College for Boys, Ludhiana. Ludhianvi was quite popular for his ghazals and nazms in the college. In 1943, Sahir Ludhianvi was expelled from his college and then he went to Lahore and settled there. There he finished the composition of his first Urdu work titled Talkhiyaan. But in the year 1949, due to some unavoidable circumstances, Ludhianvi came back top Delhi from Lahore.

Career of Sahir Ludhianvi
Sahir Ludhianvi, the popular Bollywood lyricist, made his film debut by composing the lyrics of the film Naujawan in 1951. His talent came to be recognized with Guru Dutt`s Baazi the same year. From then to 1957, he formed a formidable team with music composer S.D. Burman. They worked together in Jaal and Taxi Driver and, most importantly, in the classic Pyaasa, a film with some of Hindi cinemas finest songs. In 1958, Sahir composed the song lyrics for the film Phir Subah Hogi by Ramesh Saigal. Sahir Ludhianvi?s compositions in Guru Dutt?s film Pyaasa was considered as his best work by critics and admirers as it resembled his poetic works which he wrote during his early years. Some of the major songs of Sahir Ludhianvi, including those in Phir Subah Hogi and Naya Daur, reflect a progressive socialism. In the 1960s, he wrote songs for films such as Waqt, Gumrah and Hamraaz. These songs are considered even today as some of Hindi cinema`s perennial favourites. He also penned the evergreen lyrics of Yash Chopra`s Daag and Kabhi Kabhie.

Awards of Sahir Ludhianvi
Sahir Ludhianvi won the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist for his work in Taj Mahal and Kabhi Kabhie. He was also awarded the Padma Shri in 1971.

This famous lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi died on 25th October in the year 1980 by a massive heart attack. He was buried at the Juhu Muslim cemetery.

Sahir Ludhianvi has worked as a lyricist in the following films: