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Majrooh Sultanpuri dies of lung disease

Poet and film lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri, who gave the progressive movement of the Indian Left its war cry, died of a lung disease late Wednesday night.

The 80-year-old, who was honoured with Indian cinema's highest Award, the Dadasaheb Phalke, a few years back, leaves behind his wife, son and a daughter.

The end came at the Leelavati hospital in Bandra where he was admitted ten days back with complications of the lungs.

One of the greatest poets in the Urdu language since the time of Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Sultanpuri was especially famous for his romantic lyrics in dialogue form.

He won immediate acclaim with his very first film Shahjehan for songs like Jab Usne Keshu Bikrahe and Gum Diya Mustakil. He went on write the lyrics for around 350 films in a career spanning 50 years.

The all-time favourites from his pen include: Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka from the film Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi and Chod Do Achal Jamaana Kya Kahega from the film Nau Do Gyarah.

Sultanpuri's latest work was for the film Hum To Mohabbat Karega, which is ready to be released.

Other than being a great lyricist Majrooh was also a noted Urdu poet and had written many books. His poem: Mai akela hi chala tha, jaanib-e-manzil magar/log saath aate gaye aur kaarva banta gaya was picked up as its war cry by the progressive movement of the Indian Left.

It was however, the film world that gave him fame. He worked with almost all music directors in Bollywood, including Chandragupt and later his sons Anand-Milind, S D Burman and R D Burman, Rajesh Roshan and O P Nayyar.

Among his famous films were Aarti and Bheegi Raat for music director Roshan in which songs like Aap ne yaad dilaya to mujhe yaad aaya, Kabhi to milegi baharon ke manzil rahee and Dil jo na keh saka wahi raaz-e-dil proved to be superhits.

His other hit films include Tumsa Nahi Dekha, Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon and Mere Sanam.

Majrooh penned lyrics for over 74 films for R D Burman with the most famous being Teesri Manzil, the evergreen blockbuster of the '60s starring Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh and Mela starring Sanjay Khan and Mumtaj.

UNI

EARLIER INTERVIEW:
'My work was not really recognised till now'

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