Quick Facts

• Born: March 8, 1921; Ludhiana, British India
• Died: October 25, 1980; Mumbai, India
• Pen Name: Sahir Ludhianvi
• Full Name: Abdul Hayee
• Notable Awards: Padma Shri (1971), Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist (1964, 1977)
• Profession: Poet, Lyricist
• Languages Known: Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi
• Marital Status: Never married
• Known For: Socialist and romantic poetry, iconic Bollywood lyrics

Sahir Ludhianvi wasn’t just a poet. He was a storm in verse. Born as Abdul Hayee in Ludhiana in 1921, he adopted “Sahir” as his pen name, meaning “magician”—and that’s exactly what he became with words. Raised by a single mother after a troubled family separation, Sahir’s deep respect for women and disdain for oppression found its roots early in life.

He began writing poetry as a student and quickly made a name for himself in Lahore’s literary circles. His first collection, Talkhiyan (Bitterness), made it clear—this was not a poet of empty romance. He wrote of class struggle, heartbreak, capitalism, war, and revolution. Even love, when he wrote about it, came laced with longing and social commentary.

After Partition, Sahir moved to India and eventually settled in Mumbai, where he became one of the most sought-after lyricists in Hindi cinema. But he was never just writing for a paycheck. He insisted that songwriters get screen credit, fought for fair royalties, and remained fiercely independent throughout his career.

His lyrics for films like Pyaasa, Kabhi Kabhie, Phir Subah Hogi, Taj Mahal, and Naya Daur are still considered some of the best poetry ever written for the screen. With composers like S.D. Burman and Ravi, Sahir created timeless songs that made people think, feel, and question.

Though many admired him, Sahir remained emotionally distant. He never married, though his close friendship and rumored love for singer Sudha Malhotra, and earlier, writer Amrita Pritam, have been the subject of much speculation. Amrita, in particular, wrote openly about her unrequited love for Sahir, describing how he would sit silently, smoking, while she collected the cigarette stubs just to feel close to him.

Sahir lived alone, in a modest home in Mumbai’s Bandra, surrounded by books, silence, and poetry. He died of a sudden heart attack at the age of 59, leaving behind a legacy that still stirs hearts.

Sahir Ludhianvi didn’t just write poetry. He wrote truths that people were too afraid to speak. And somehow, he made them beautiful