"Shahryar Was The Best Ghazal Poet": Shabana Azmi

Abba passed away on February 13. We knew it was coming, but the actual news shook us immensely. The journey from home to the graveyard is a long one. Memories gnaw at your heart. All the time. When I saw his dead body for the first time, I felt, he'll speak in a moment. The fact that he will never talk again is difficult to fathom. It is a great loss for our family and for the literary world. I have tried to compile press coverage, a few tweets, a video on Abba's contribution to the Indian film industry and a few of my personal memories. Mahesh Bhatt sahab sent me an apt SMS: He Lives. Take care. Thanks Bhatt sahab.


I will start this blog with an audio clip of my conversation with Abba on December 24, 2011. He talks about Mushairas and also talks about his unpublished works. His famed memory was still intact as he recites a few of his couplets. Just click on the link below.

 



Remembering Shahryar, is a video compiled by me for Bollywood Hungama where we have highlighted Abba's notable contribution to the Indian cinema through his lyrics in films like Umrao Jaan, Gaman, Faasle and Anjuman. It also has a rare excerpt from Muzaffar Ali's unfinished film Zooni. Rukh-e-dildaar deedam lingers on.






Press Coverage

1) Urdu Poet Shahryar Passes Away (The Headlines Today)

2) Rich Tributes Paid To Shahryar (ibnlive.com)

3) Umrao Jaan Poet Shahryar Passes Away (The Hindustan Times)

4) "Big Loss To The World Of Urdu Literature": Farouque Shaikh (The Times Of India)

5) Sultan of Sleep (The Indian Express) 

6) Umrao Jaan Lyricist Passes Away (The Times Of India)

7) Shahryar Passes Away (Mumbai Mirror)

8) The Poet Who Gave Umrao Jaan Her Voice (The Hindu)

9) "Shahryar Was The Best Ghazal Poet": Shabana Azmi

10) Veteran Lyricist Shahryar Passed Away At 76

11) Notable tribute by Harsh Singh

12) Noted Urdu Poet Akhlaq Khan Shahryar Dead (Outlook)

13) Noted Urdu Poet & Lyricist Shahryar Dies At 76

14) Shahryar, The Ghalib Of Our Times (The Times Of India)

15) Muzaffar Ali's moving and evocative tribute to Shahryar in 'The Economic Times

16) Tahseen Munawwar's fine article in Inquilaab 
17) My views on Abba in Dainik Jagran 
18) Prem Kumar's wonderful article on Abba in Dainik Jagran 
19) Tribute to Abba in an Italian blog 'Breaking News India'
20) Poet is dead; long live poetry 
The above article in The Pioneer wrongly portrays that Abba gave up writing in films for promoting the so called 'Aligarh Movement'. Abba didn't write for too many films as he didn't want to short sell his Art. Muzaffar Ali valued Abba's poetry, hence he repeated him in all his films. The fact is that maximum filmmakers don't treat writers well. Abba is widely recognised for his fantastic and timeless Art and we as a family are proud that he never made any artistic compromises.
21) Rich tributes paid to Urdu poet Shahryar (DNA)
22) A master of ghazal and nazm (The Indian Express)
23) Ali Zafar remembers Shahryar (Pink Villa)
24) Jnanpith Award winner Professor A.M.K. Shahryar passed away
25) Noted lyricist Shahryar passed away (Indiantelevision.com)
26) Prof Shahryar no more (NV Online)
27) Urdu poet Shahryar passes away (India TV)
28) Doyen of Urdu Poetry Shahryar is no more (twocircles.net)
29) A fine tribute by Mehr Afshaan Farooqi in outlookindia.com
30) Urdu poet Shahryar passes away (News 24)
31) Renowned poet Shahryar passes away (Star News)


A Few Tweets

1) Farzana Versey @farzana_versey Shahryar verses posted by many, but this I have to:"tamam umr ka hisab mangti hai zindagI/ye mera dil kahe to kya ye khud se sharmasar hai"
2) Anubha Bhonsle @anubhabhonsleI love this country, a thousand tweets for whitney, not one for the great shahryar.
3) Rana Safvi @iamrana "@GaziMumbai: Real Romantic Poet .. Even died on the eve of Valentine's Day #Shahryar #RIP"
4) Azmi shabana @AzmiShabana Dil hai toh dhadakne ke bahana koi dhoonde pathar ki tarha behis o bejaan sa kyun hai.RIP Shahryar Saheb
5) Azmi shabana @AzmiShabana Seene mein jalan ankhon mein toofan sa kyun hai / is shehr mein har shaqs pareshan sa kyun hai Shahryar will live on thru his poetry..
6) Mona Kapoor @monakapoor3 Condolence to Faridun n the family on the passing of his father, eminent poet shahryar sahab..we r never old enuf to lose a parent.
7) Ashoke Pandit @ashokepandit Well known Urdu poet Shahryar passes away shortly due to Lung Cancer.Umrao Jaan and Gaman will keep him alive.R.I.P
8) Madhavan Narayanan @madversityRIP #shahryar. One more whose poems we know but not quite the name
9) Hemant Koki Sachdeva @kokeesachdeva Aise hiJr ke mausam kab kab aate haiN / tere alaawa Yaad hamme sab aate haiN ~ #Shahryar
10) Mohd Amir Mintoee @mamir_alig Afsos k Urdu adab ne apna ek raushan chiraagh kho diya. Allah Shahryar sahab ki maghfarat farmaye, AAMEEN.
11) Prarthna Gahilote @prattyg Dhund Ki Roshni mein gayab... Shahryar saheb ke bina shehar soona hai.
12) Sounds of laughter @dhwaney RIP Shahryar... superb poetry... zindagi jab bhi teri bazm mein lati hai humein; yeh zameen chand se behtar nazar aati hai humein...
13) Shubhi Singh @Shubhi257 Justaju jiski thi usko to na paaya Humne,Is bahaane se magar dekh li Duniya Humne #umraojaan Rest In Peace Shahryar
14) Supradeep Mukherjee @SupradeepM Shahryar, like me, was a champion of the Ganga Jamuna Tehzeeb of India - the Confluence of Hinduism and Islam, the Bhakti and the Sufi Move…
15) मुसाफ़िर @manish0891 काग़ज़ की कश्ती में दरिया पार किया , देखो हम को क्या-क्या करतब आते हैं। #Shahryar
16) मुसाफ़िर @manish0891 सुर्ख़ फूलों से महक उठती हैं दिल की राहें , दिन ढले यूँ तेरी आवाज़ बुलाती है हमें। #Shahryar
17) मुसाफ़िर @manish0891 कहीं ज़रा सा अँधेरा भी कल की रात न था , गवाह कोई मगर रौशनी के साथ न था। #Shahryar
18) मुसाफ़िर @manish0891 ये कैसी अजनबी दस्तक थी, कैसी आहट थी/तेरे सिवा था किसे हक मुझे जगाने का। #Shahryar
19) Payal @i_resuscitated Saharaa Ki Jaanib Chalen Baithe Baithe Thak Gaye Saaye Mein Dildaar Ke (3/3) ~ Shahryar
20) Ankur Gupta @ankurgupta7 "Yeh kya jagah hai doston; yeh kaun sa mukaam hai" guess Shahryar wrote it knowing how little recognitn do real heroes get against reel ones
21) ashutosh singh @singhtosh Seenay mein jalan aakhon mein toofan sa kyun hai / Is shehr mein har shaks pareshan sa kyun hai.. Shahryar . RIP
22) Juneesh @Vjuneesh बे-नाम-से एक खौफ से दिल क्यूँ है परेशाँ / जब तै है की कुछ वक़्त से पहले नहीं होगा// #Shair #Shahryar
23) kozhalmannam shriram @KGShriram "Dil hai toh dhadakne ke bahana koi dhoonde pathar ki tarha behis o bejaan sa kyun hai" - #Shahryar. Would have been nice if he tweeted!
24) butterfly @buterflyaffect news of Whitney Houston and Shahryar Khan's death was too saddening
25) Ankur Gupta @ankurgupta7 "Iss shahar mein har shaqs pareshaan sa kyun hai" - Urdu poet Shahryar passes away. Khuda unhe Jannat naseeb kare.
26) saurshaz @saurshaz «@ShaiqKhan Kabhi kisi ko mukammal jahan nahin milta/ Kahin zameen, tou kahin aasmaan nahin milta. ~ #Shahryar»
27) marry na! @Marina_Scorpian Waqt guzr gaya "@lonesome__: In paniyon se koi salamat nahi gaya= Hai waqt ab bhi kashtiyan le jao mor ke (5/5) #Shahryar #Shair"
28) marry na! @Marina_Scorpian :'( !!! "@lonesome__: Agaz kyon kiya tha safar un Khwabon ka = Pachata rahe ho sabz zaminon ko chor ke (2/5) #Shahryar #Shair
29) @mrafi @prattyg Ik tum nahin tanha ulfat main meri rusva, Is sheher main tum jaise deewane hazaaron hai #Shahryar #magic @ShashiTharoor
30) Raza Rumi @Razarumi @farzana_versey Shahryar's style was classical and diction modern. A unique blend, a rare gift!
31) Atul Mehra @lonesomeIn paniyon se koi salamat nahi gaya~ Hai waqt ab bhi kashtiyan le jao mor ke (5/5) #Shahryar #Shair
32) Atul Mehra @lonesomeKuch bhi nahi jo Khwab ki tarah dikhai de~ Koi nahi jo ham ko jagaye jhinjhor ke (4/5) #Shahryar #Shair
33) Atul Mehra @lonesomeIk boond zahar ke liye phaila rahe ho hath ~ Dekho kabhi Khud apane badan ko nichor ke (3/5) #Shahryar #Shair
34) Atul Mehra @lonesomeHam parh rahe the Khwab ke purzon ko jor ke~ Andhi ne ye tilism bhi rakh Dala tor ke (1/5) #Shahryar #Shair
35) Presilla Ramnath @RamnathPresillaRest in Peace Akhlaq Mohammed Khan urf Shahryar. A doyen of Urdu poetry in India. He wrote the lyrics for films such as of Umrao Jaan,Gaman
36) Rachit @rachitst "Kyaa koi nai baat nazar aati hai ham mein / aainaa hamen dekh ke hairaan sa kyon hai" ~ Shahryar (from "Seene mein jalan")
37) Syed Khamaroddin @ikhamar Har taraf har jagah beshumaar aadmi/ Phir bhi tanhaaiyon ka shikaar aadmi #Shahryar
38) Sachin Kalbag @SachinKalbag @pragmatic_d "Kyaa koi nai baat nazar aati hai ham mein / aainaa hamen dekh ke hairaan sa kyon hai" ~ Shahryar (from "Seene mein jalan")
39) pragmatic_desi @pragmatic_d "Dil mein tuufaan hai aur aankhon mein tughyaani hai // Zindagii ham ne abhii haar nahiin maanii hai" (Shahryar
40) India GK Time @IndiaGkTime Urdu poet Shahryar passed away in Aligarh yesterday. He wrote the lyrics of famous ghazal “Dil cheez kya hai” of film Umrao Jaan.
41) Uzma Siddiqui @uzmaobaid Rest in Peace Shahryar Sahab, a true legend and great poet
42) @YudhajitDutta One of the most Romantic lyricist, Shahryar passes away... What a day he chose... RIP...
43) Zaieem Mohammad @zaieemm 
Woh kaun tha, woh kahan ka tha, kya hua tha usey // Suna hai aaj koi shakhs mar gaya yaaro ... #shair #Shahryar
44) Rachna Sinha @Rachna49 Main jisko likhne ke armaan mein jiyaa ab tak/warak-warak wo fasaanaa bikhar gayaa yaaron #Shahryar
45) UTV Stars @UTVStars ACCLAIMED LYRICIST SHAHRYAR OF "UMRAAO JAAN" FAME DIES OF LUNG CANCER
46) anand pandey @anandnama #Shahryar saab, 1 of the greatest tht v hv hd in our times, remembering him as the #Umraojaan lyricist or for his filmy poetry is na-samjhi
47) anand pandey @anandnama इस नतीजे पर पहुँचने में बड़ी मुद्दत लगी, तुझ से अच्छे तो बहुत है, पर कोई तुझसा नहीं.. #Shahryar Saahab: youtu.be/E_ECapaS4K4 via @youtube
48) anand pandey @anandnama "umeed se kam chashm-e-kharidar mein aaye, humlog zara der se bazaar mein aaye.." #shahryar saahab...
49) Anand pandey @anandnama Reply Retweet Favorite · Open"aaj ki raat mai ghumunga khuli sadkon par, aaj ki raat mujhe khwaabon se fursat kuchh hai.." #shahryar saahab...
50) Sameer @samar_27 BULA RAHA HAI KAUN MUJHKO CHILMANO KE US TARAF. MERE LIYE BHI KYA KOI UDAAS BEKARAR HAI...RIP SHAHRYAR
51) @just4rab Kisi shayar ka nidhn jo sunta hu, Asko k moti chunta hu, Klam khamosh ho jati hai meri, Klam k aashiq "Shahryar"ko slaam krta hu
52) anand pandey @anandnama "दामे-उल्फ़त से छूटती ही नहीं/ज़िन्दगी तुझको भूलती ही नहीं..एक मंज़िल पे रुक गई है हयात / ये ज़मीं जैसे घूमती ही नहीं.." #shahryar saahab..
53) Imama DalviShahryar one of my favourite writers, no more. God rest his soul in peace.
54) anand pandey @anandnama यूं डोर को हम वक्त की पकड़े तो हुए थे / एक बार मगर छूटी तो फिर हाथ न आयी... #Shahryar Saahab...
55) Pravesh Jha @Hedonist_Entry padh rahe the Khwaab ki purzon ko jod ke...aandhi ne ye tilism bhi rakh Daala tod ke !!! RIP #Shahryar
56) Mahaveer Poonia @mahaveerpoonia Na woh shahar rahe na woh yaar.. Pata hai ab toh na rahe shahryar!!
57) anand pandey @anandnama "Is natije par pahunchte hain sabhi aakhir mein/Hasil-e-sair-e-jahan kuch bhi nahin, hairani hai youtu.be/v1QaZTprRjY via @youtube #Shahryar
58) JAWAHAR CHHODA @Jawaharchhoda Urdu poet Shahryar, who wrote songs for films like Gaman and Umrao Jaan, pased away recently. His best songs... fb.me/1336sFqNW
59) B N Gupta @guptabn Despite critical acclaim and commercial success #Shahryar has consistently refused to become a performer playing to the gallery at mushairas
60) Sajid Hussain @sajid843RT @saima2000: :( RT @shams_z: Ek shahryar aur doosre prof. Irfan Habib. Shahryar sahab nahi rahe. Ab aligarh aadha hai...
61) taran adarsh @taran_adarsh RIP Shahryar saha
62) Rana Safvi @iamrana "@afzalpens: in memory of #Shahryar sahab, can we have something on twitter Like annual awards for excellence in Urdu literature and poetry?
63) @anubhabhonsle ~ God knows why but Shahryar's - Umrao Jan songs were ... unparalleled, soulful ..... (I am at a loss of words) #RIPShahryar
64) Asma Rizwan @asmariz "@iamrana: +@afzalpens _ Zauq-e-Adab jisko tha Rukhsat hua / Laal Urdu ka Ek aur Rukhsat hua - in memory of Shahryar sahab #RIPShahryar
65) Ajeet Pratap Singh @shivajeet @smiley4g Tumne Tadap Ke Ro Diya To Kya Hua Gam Chhupa Ke Jeene Wale Kam Nahi. by shahryar
66) Sajid Bhombal @SajidBhombal is haadase ko sun ke karegaa yaqii.n ko_ii / suuraj ko ek jho.nkaa havaa kaa bujhaa gayaa #Shahryar
67) Sajid Bhombal @SajidBhombal jaagatii aa.Nkho.n se bhii dekho duniyaa ko / Khvaabo.n kaa kyaa hai vo har shab aate hai.n #Shahryar
68) @nawaidanjum Jis taraf dekhiye duniya mein kahin kuch cheez zyada hai, kahin kuch kam hai
69) Lasya Nadimpally For once something decent and worthwhile is trending #shahryar

Personal Space

Since the time, we came to know about Abba's illness, I have written a few blog posts. Here are all the links:

1) Gift a positive smile to the elderly (April 18, 2011)

2) Abba's Jnanpith Award and a few songs (September 16, 2011)

3) Big B honours Abba with Jnanpith Award: Video and Pics (September 29, 2011)

4) Abba's poetry and the fear of losing him (December 2, 2011) 




Down Memory Lane


An interview conducted by me in June 2011. I am really glad I did this.





A poem 'When The Painlessness Hurts', written by me, June 14, 2011


Hopelessness infests
Ruthlessly,
Trampling
All traces
Of positivity,
Eerily smiling,
Brandishing
A knife, that
Gleams sinisterly.

It is easy
To philosophise
About the End,
But its a
Stab-in-the-heart
To Look beyond
The Inevitable.

Stripped of protection,
Leaves of attachment
Gear up for a
Bloody battle ahead
As the storm rages on.

Defeat seems imminent
As the Loss gets into
The garb of memories;
Painlessness hurts...



A poem 'Smiles Overpower Frowns', written by me, January 22, 2012


Memories chirp
As I walk alone
On a torn road.

Life is longing
To give up
The prolonged battle
With the inevitable;
Tears have dried up,
Knotted hearts
Are more at ease now.

Legacy of wealth
Is a misnomer;
Treasure of creativity,
An eternal revelation.

The road ahead
Is precariously uncertain;
Hopefully,
The smiles
Will always overpower
The frowns.




Shab-e-gham Kya Karein...A Ghazal By My Dad



Music arrangements: Navneet Kedar. Music composed and sung by me.












Palkon ko bhigoyen kaise...A Ghazal by my Father

Music composition-arrangements: Navneet Kedar. Electric and acoustic guitar: Nabeel Feroz. Sung by me.

Naseem-e-soobh ro rahi hai...a Nazm by Abba on the death of India's President Zakir Hussain sahab. Zakir sahab inspired Abba a lot. This Nazm is not part of any of Abba's published works. Music composition-arrangements: Navneet Kedar. Sung by me.






Haan Yaad Hai, a song composed-sung by me and written by me and my wife Aarefa on Abba's 75th birthday on June 16, 2011. We knew about his disease by then and it was a very emotional moment. I had gone to Dubai for work near his birthday and me, my sister Saima, brother Humayun, brother-in-law Meraj bhai and sister-in-law Tina listened to the final song at Saima's place in Dubai. Abba was there as well.








Lyrics


Baarish toofaan mein, kandhe par bitha kar hotel tak jaana yaad hai
Vo khaana khilaana hasna hasaana, khisse sunana yaad hai
Filmon ki baatein ho ya shayri, khwabon ki duniya haqiqat nahin
Common sense is something uncommon, kaha tha kabhi...yaad hai

Vo saadi si khushi, vo aadhi si hasi, nasihat pyaar ki bas kami izhaar ki

Khamoshi ki dhun, sannatein len sun, hulchul ka sukoon, beniyaz hai junoon

Lamba ho safar chahe mushkil dagar
Saath hain jab hum sab to kaahe ka dar
Zindagi ki lazzatein kam nahin, tum dhoondo to sahi

ek aas hai, kuch khaas hai, ahsaas hai

Baarish toofaan mein kandhe par bitha kar hotel tak jaana yaad hai
Vo khaana khilana, hasna hasaana, khisse sunana yaad hai

Ek aas hai, kuch khaas hai, ahsaas hai...

Haan yaad hai...