Naqsh Lyallpuri

Jaswant Rai Sharma (24 February 1928 – 22 January 2017), popularly known by his pen name Naqsh Lyallpuri, was an Indian ghazal and Bollywood film lyricist. He is best known for the songs "Rasm-e-Ulfat Ko Nibhayen" (Dil Ki Rahen, 1973), "Tumhe Ho Na Ho" (Gharonda, 1977), "Yeh Mulaqaat Ek Bahana Hai " (Khandaan, 1979), "Pyar Ka Dard Hai" (Dard, 1981), and "Chitthiye Ni Dard Firaaq Vaaliye" (Henna, 1991).

Naqsh Lyallpuri
Born
Jaswant Rai Sharma

(1928-02-24)24 February 1928
Lyallpur (now called Faisalabad), British India
Died22 January 2017(2017-01-22) (aged 88)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
OccupationLyricist
Years active1953–2007

Early life

Jaswant Rai Sharma was born in Lyallpur (now called Faisalabad and in present-day Pakistan) on 24 February 1928 to a Punjabi-Brahmin family.[1][2] His father, a mechanical engineer, wanted Jaswant to be an engineer, too. He disapproved of Jaswant's affinity for literature. His mother died of chickenpox when he was eight and his father remarried, after which the father-son relationship deteriorated.[3]

In 1946 Sharma worked at a publishing house named Hero Publications and later moved to Lahore looking for work. After the Partition of India, the family migrated to Lucknow. Sharma later took on the pen name "Naqsh" – meaning an impression, a mark or a print – and added "Lyallpuri" to it, following the tradition of Urdu poets to associate with their birthplace.[4][5]

Lyallpuri moved to Bombay in 1951 and started working at The Times of India as a proofreader. He married Kamlesh, with whom he has three sons, Bappan, Rajendra, and Suneet. His family members also adopted Lyallpuri as their surname.[4] Lyallpuri credits his wife as his "pillar of strength" who supported him in his unsuccessful years. His son Rajendra "Rajan" Lyallpuri is a cinematographer.[4][1]

Works

Lyallpuri came to Mumbai in the 1950s seeking a career in the Hindi film industry. He started writing stage plays and was introduced to actor Ram Mohan, who was an assistant to actor-director Jagdish Sethi. Mohan introduced Lyallpuri to Sethi, who listened to his poetry and asked him to write songs for his next film.[4] Lyallpuri debuted as a film lyricist with the 1953 film Jaggu, writing the lyrics of "Agar Teri Aankhon Se Aankhein Mila Doon", rendered by Asha Bhosle and composed by Hansraj Bahl.[2][1]

Until the 1970s, Lyallpuri's work did not meet with success. He worked in the postal department to earn his living.[6] Music director Jaidev introduced him to television serials and asked him to write lyrics for the Hindi television series Shrikant. Lyallpuri went on to write songs for about 50 TV serials along with nearly 40 Punjabi films.[4][1]

Lyallpuri collaborated with various Bollywood music directors, including Madan Mohan, Khayyam, Sapan Jagmohan, Jaidev, Naushad, and Ravindra Jain, and Punjabi music composers like Surinder Kohli, Hansraj Bahl, Ved Sethi, and Husnlal-Bhagatram.[1] He had a close association with director B. R. Ishara from their first film, Chetna, in 1970, which Lyallpuri's song "Main Toh Har Mod Par Tujhko Doonga Sada" performed by Mukesh became very famous.[4]

Lyallpuri's songs have been noted for being "hummable", although they did not make a major impact on the overall industry.[5] He avoided unwarranted word play and kept the lyrics simple, although he used Urdu words frequently.[7] His command of Urdu made many doubt his Punjabi ethnicity.[1] In his earlier career, he faced competition from Sahir Ludhianvi, Hasrat Jaipuri, and Shailendra and later from other Urdu-poets like Gulzar and Majrooh Sultanpuri, who were all well established in the Hindi film industry. Lyallpuri hence focused on Hindi B-grade films and Punjabi films. His 1973 song "Rasm-e-Ulfat Ko Nibhayen" for the film Dil Ki Rahen was sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Mangeshkar counts it as her favourite Lyallpuri song but gives credit for its success to the music composed by Madan Mohan, based on raag Madhuvanti and the lyrics written by Lyallpuri, rather than her own singing.[8]

Lyallpuri is best known for the song "Tumhe Ho Na Ho" from the film Gharonda (1977), sung by Bangladeshi singer Runa Laila. The song is often wrongly ascribed to Gulzar, who wrote the other songs in the film, whereas the song "Do Deewane Shahar Mein" in the same film is misattributed to Lyallpuri.[5] The 1979 song "Yeh Mulaqaat Ek Bahana Hai" in the film Khandaan is noted for its unusual ghazal format.[7] His "Pyar Ka Dard Hai" from the 1981 film Dard has been lauded for Kishore Kumar's soft singing and for using "everyday lyrics".[9] The song Na Jane Kya Hua Jo Tune sung by Lata Mangeshkar under Khaiyyam's music from the same film is considered one of the most romantic Bollywood songs. He also wrote the only Punjabi song "Chitthiye Ni Dard Firaaq Vaaliye" in the film Henna (1991).[5]

""DK Bose" (Delhi Belly) isn't good poetry. It's a degradation of the medium. Don't tell me that's what the masses want because that's a weak argument. The truth is listeners don't have a choice",[1]
– Lyallpuri criticizing the use of profanity in contemporary songs

Lyallpuri published two books: Teri Gali Ki Taref (On Your Street) is a collection of his non-film shayari and Angan Angan Barse Geet features his songs from films, television serials, and music albums.[4]

Lyallpuri took a sabbatical from films in the 1990s, disliking the lyrical style prevalent then, some using profanity and continued with television. He returned in the 2000s penning lyrics for the films Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story (2005) and Yatra (2007), collaborating with his earlier music directors Naushad and Khayyam, respectively.[6] He was a founding member of the Indian Performing Rights Society, which works for royalty rights of music directors and lyricists.[3]

Selective filmography

Death

Lyallpuri suffered from a hip bone fracture in March 2016 and was hospitalized in October 2016. He died on 22 January 2017 at the age of 88 at his residence in Andheri, Mumbai and his funeral took place at the Oshiwara crematorium.[13]

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References
  1. Devesh Sharma (11 May 2012). "Naqsh Lyallpuri: DK Bose Is An Embarrassment". iDiva. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  2. "Naqsh Lyallpuri: A playlist of his top songs". Hindustan Times. 22 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  3. "Star under a shadow". The Hindu. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  4. "Old is Gold: Naqsh Lyallpuri (Feb 24,1928 – Jan 22 2017)". The Film Writers' Association. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  5. Narayan, Hari (26 January 2017). "A forgotten lyricist from Punjab". The Hindu. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  6. "Naqsh Lyallpuri, Urdu poet and lyricist of 'Ulfat me zamane ki', dies at 89". Hindustan Times. 22 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  7. Sharma, Ashutosh (23 January 2017). "Naqsh Lyallpuri is gone, but his lyrics will live". National Herald. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  8. "Late Naqsh Lyallpuri Wrote One of My Most Memorable Ghazals: Lata Mangeshkar". News 18. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  9. T.M. Ramachandran (1982). Film World, Volume 19. p. 8. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  10. Zaveri, Hanif (2005). Mehmood, a Man of Many Moods. Popular Prakashan. ISBN 9788179912133. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  11. Bharathi S. Pradhan (2016). Anything But Khamosh: The Shatrughan Sinha Biography. Om Books International. p. 293. ISBN 9385609599. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  12. Bharatan, Raju (2016). Asha Bhosle: A Musical Biography. Hay House Inc. p. 103. ISBN 9385827162. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  13. "Naqsh Lyallpuri, renowned Urdu poet and lyricist dies at 88". The Financial Express. 22 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
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