Izhar Anwar

Izhar Anwar, more popularly known by his pen name Tasleem Fazli, was an Urdu poet, lyricist, and writer born in New Delhi in 1947. He was born into a Kashmiri Muslim literary family; his father, Syed Murtaza Husain (also known as “Dua Dabaivi”), was himself a respected Urdu poet. Izhar’s brothers, Nida Fazli and Saba Fazli, also became prominent figures in Urdu literature, contributing poetry and songs in both India and Pakistan.

After the Partition, the family migrated in stages to Pakistan. They first settled in Lahore, and later moved to Karachi, where Tasleem Fazli would build his poetic and film career. He emerged on the literary scene in the late 1960s and into the 1970s, making a mark in Pakistani cinema by writing lyrics and dialogues for Urdu films. His songs were appreciated for their lyrical sensitivity, emotional depth, and for combining poetic diction with themes of love, longing, separation, and introspective feelings.

One of his early breakthroughs came when director Shaukat Hussain Rizvi approached him to write a song for the film Ashiq. The song “Danwa Danwa Main Guno Kab Aayenge Saanwariya” brought him notice, and from then on more filmmakers sought his work, giving voice to his words through music and cinema. His style balanced the classical Urdu poetic heritage with accessible expression, allowing his lyrics to connect both with literary-minded audiences and general filmgoers.

In his personal life, he married actress Nisho, and they had a daughter, Ayesha. His relationship with the film industry was intimate, but his poetic identity was also independent, not just tied to films but to the tradition of Urdu ghazal, nazm, and poetic recitation.

Tragically, Tasleem Fazli’s life was cut short when he died of a heart attack in Karachi on 17 August 1982, at only about 35 years of age. Despite his relatively brief life, he left behind a body of work in Urdu film and poetry that continues to be remembered. His songs are still sung, his poetry still recited, and he remains respected for the lyrical honesty, emotional resonance, and the melodious interplay of words that characterise his legacy.