Arzoo Lakhnavi

• Honorific Prefix — Allamah • Name — Arzoo Lakhnavi • Pen Name — Arzoo Lakhnavi • Birth Name — Syed Anwar Hussain • Born — 16 February 1873 • Birthplace — North-Western Provinces, British India • Died — 17 April 1951 • Place of death — Karachi, Pakistan • Language — Urdu • Genres — * Gazal • Marsiya • Qasida • Mathnawi • Rubaʿi • Naʽat • Chronogram • Parents — Mir Zakir Hussain 'Yas' (father) • Relatives — Mir Yusuf Hussain 'Qayas' (brother)

He was associated with poetry during his school days. He was taught by Jalal Lakhnavi, an Urdu poet. He received his initially schooling at his home and later went to Lucknow where he studied Persian and Arabic languages. He wrote his first marsiya at an apparent age of twelve. In 1942, he went to Bombay where he established his association with Hindi film industry. Following the partition, he later migrated to Pakistan where he remained associated with the Radio Pakistan in Karachi. He wrote poetry in various forms, however he earned his recognition with ghazals. His authorship includes seven diwans such as Fughan-e-Arzoo, Jahan-e-Arzoo and Nishan-e-Arzoo consisting of 25,000 ghazals. He earned the title "Allamah" primarily for ghazal writings. Most of his work, particularly ghazals revolves around romance. He wrote lyrics for Hindi films such as Karoon Kya Aas, Dushman, Street Singer among others. He also wrote a book titled Sureeli Bansuri in Urdu. He died on 17 April 1951 in Karachi, Pakistan.