Raja Mehdi Ali Khan

Raja Mehdi Ali Khan (23 September 1915 – 27 July 1966) was an Indian poet, writer and film songs lyricist.

Raja Mehdi Ali Khan
راجہ مہدی علی خان
Born(1915-09-23)23 September 1915
Wazirabad
(present day Gujranwala District, Pakistan)
Died27 July 1966(1966-07-27) (aged 50)
NationalityIndian
OccupationPoet, Writer and Film Songs Lyricist
Years active1946 – 1966
Notable work
Wrote popular songs for films
Shaheed
Anpadh
Woh Kaun Thi?
Mera Saaya
Spouse(s)Tahira

Early life and career

Raja Mehdi Ali Khan was born on 23 September 1915 at Karamabad village, near Wazirabad, Gujranwala District of Punjab, British India.[1][2] Mehdi Ali lost his father when he was four. His mother Hubia Khanum who was the sister of Maulana Zafar Ali Khan, got him educated and he completed his basic education at Islamia College (Lahore).[2]

As he grew up, Mehdi Ali started working at the editorial staff of Phool and Tehzeeb-e-Niswan Urdu magazineas from Lahore. Then he joined as a writer at the All India Radio, Delhi in 1942.[2] Here he got acquainted with the noted writer Saadat Hasan Manto. Manto, who was active in the Hindi film industry, asked film actor Ashok Kumar to find Mehdi Ali some kind of a job. He soon got a film called Aath Din (1946) in which he not only wrote dialogues but also acted. Sashadhar Mukherjee, one of the partners in Filmistan Studio, gave Mehdi Ali a chance to write lyrics for his film, Do Bhai (1947). Songs from the film such as "Mera Sunder Sapna Beet Gaya" and "Yaad Karoge" became instant hits.[2][3]

In 1947, Mehdi and his wife Tahira decided to stay in India instead of migrating to Pakistan. They came to this decision despite the wave of riots plaguing the country. In 1948, his patriotism manifested in his songs, "Watan Ki Raah Mein" and "Todi Todi Bachche", which were used in the film Shaheed.[3]

He worked with music composers including Sachin Dev Burman, Iqbal Qureshi, Babul, S. Mohinder, Chic Chocolate, and Rono Mukherjee. He also wrote songs for C. Ramchandra, Datta Naik ("Sare Jahan Se Acha Hindustan Hamara") and O. P. Nayyar ("Main Pyar Ka Raahi Hoon").

He formed a successful partnership with Madan Mohan which began with Madhosh in 1951. It was also Madan Mohan's third film as a music director. The two shared a great rapport and their later collaborations in films such as Anpadh, Mera Saaya, Woh Kaun Thi?, Neela Akash, Dulhan Ek Raat Ki, Anita and Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah proved to be massive hits.[3] His song Lag Jaa Gale from Woh Kaun Thi? was named among the top ten all-time favorites in film history to be "retired" from Antakshari on Zee TV.

Death

He died on 27 July 1966. He and his wife Tahira, remained childless even though he himself loved to interact with children.[2]

It is said that when he was seriously ill and was on his deathbed, even then he kept his humourous side and was seen laughing with his visitors.[2]

  • Raat sard sard hai, Jaali Note (1960 film)
  • Poochho na humein, (Mitti Me Sona) (1960 film)
  • Maye pyar ka raahi hoon, (Ek Musafir Ek Haseena)
  • Aap ki nazron ne samjha pyar ke qaabil mujhe, Anpadh (1962 film)[4][1]
  • Hai issi me pyar ki aabroo, (Anpadh)
  • Jiya lay gayo ri mera sanwaria (Anpadh)[1]
  • Main nigaahen tere chehre se, (Aap Ki Parchhaiyan)
  • Jo hum ne dastaan apni sunaai, aap kyun roye, (Woh Kaun Thi)[1][3]
  • Naina barse rimjhim rimjhim, (Woh Kaun Thi)
  • Aakhri geet mohabbat ka, (Neela Akaash)
  • Tere paas aa ke mera waqt, (Neela Akaash)
  • Tu jahan jahan chalega mera saaya saath hoga, (Mera Saaya)
  • Aap ke paheloo me aa kar ro diye, (Mera Saaya)
  • Jhumka gira re Bareilli ke bazaar mein, (Mera Saaya)[4][1]
  • Kayee din se ji hai bekal, (Dulhan Ek Raat Ki)
  • Ek haseen sham ko, (Dulhan Ek Raat Ki)
  • Aari o shokh kaliyion muskuraa dena, (Jab Yaad Kisi Ki Aati Hai)
  • Akela hoon mein humsafar dhoondta hoon, (Jaal)
  • Tum bin jeevan kaise beeta poochho mere dil se, (Anita)

References
  1. Ishtiaq Ahmed (16 September 2016). "The Punjabi contribution to cinema - XII". The Friday Times (newspaper). Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  2. Parekh, Rauf (30 July 2018). "Literary Notes: Raja Mehdi Ali Khan: agony hidden behind laughter". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  3. Filmography of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan on Cinestaan.com website Retrieved 13 January 2021
  4. Albums with Raja Mehdi Ali Khan as Lyricist MySwar website, Retrieved 12 January 2021
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