Majrooh Sultanpuri

In 1945, Majrooh visited Bombay to attend a mushaira at the Saboo Siddique Institute. Here his ghazals and poetry were highly appreciated by the audience. One of the impressed listeners was film producer A.R. Kardar. He contacted Jigar Moradabadi who helped him get in touch with Majrooh. However, Majrooh refused to write for films because he did not think very highly of them. But Jigar Moradabadi persuaded him, saying that films would pay well and would help Majrooh support his family. Kardar then took him to music composer Naushad who put the young writer to test. He gave Majrooh a tune and asked him to write something in the same metre, and Majrooh wrote Jab Usne Gesu Bikhraye, Badal Aaye Jhoom Ke.... Naushad liked what he wrote and Majrooh was signed on as the lyricist for the film Shah Jehan (1946). Majrooh subsequently wrote lyrics for films like Naatak (1947), Doli (1947) and Anjuman (1948) but his major breakthrough came with Mehboob Khan's Andaz (1949). He was sentenced to two years imprisonment due to his politically-charged poems in 1949. Having to start his film career afresh, Majrooh finally broke through again with the Guru Dutt films Baaz (1953). Majrooh Sultanpuri worked with many music directors like Anil Biswas, Naushad, Ghulam Mohammed, Madan Mohan, O. P. Nayyar, Roshan, Salil Chowdhury, Chitragupt, N. Datta, Kalyanji-Anandji, Laxmikant-Pyarelal and R. D. Burman. His last film as a lyricist was One 2 Ka 4, which was released after his death in 2001.

• Year — Film — Songs — Language • 1963 — Laagi Nahi Chhute Ram — All Songs — Bhojpuri • 1969 — Talash — All Songs — Hindi • 1970 — Pardesi — All Songs — Hindi • 1986 — Ek Aur Sikander — All songs • 1987 — Watan Ke Rakhwale — All songs • Inaam Dus Hazaar — All songs • 1988 — Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak — All songs — Hindi • Janam Janam — "Barkha Rut Bhi Aaj" and "Kahe Dag Mag Teri" • Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani — "Dulhe Raja Ki Soorat Dekho", "Kisi Se Jab Pyar Hua", and "Dadi Maa Dadi Maa" — Hindi • Zahreelay — All songs • 1989 — Lal Dupatta Malmal Ka — All songs • Phir Laharaya Lal Dupatta — All songs — Hindi • 1990 — Yaara Dildara — All songs — Hindi • Tum Mere Ho — All songs — Hindi • Nyay Anyay — All songs • Shiva — All songs • Ghar Ho To Aisa — All songs — Hindi • Daulat Ki Jung — All songs — Hindi • Kanoon Ki Zanjeer — All songs — Hindi • 1991 — Aayee Milan Ki Raat — "Mat Ro Mere Dil" and "Dekhein Apni Kismat Mein" — Hindi • Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar — All songs — Hindi • Love — All songs — Hindi • Dastoor — All songs • Hai Meri Jaan — "Kahan Chali Ae Nazneen" and "Ghunghat Mera Jane Kya Hua" — Hindi • Yaar Meri Zindagi — All songs — Hindi • Humshakal — All songs — Hindi • 1992 — Honeymoon — "Yun Na Dekho Tasvir Banke" and "Aadha Tera Dil Aadha Mera Dil" — Hindi • Gurudev — All songs except "Aaja Sunle Sada" • Rishta Ho To Aisa — All songs — Hindi • Ek Ladka Ek Ladki — All songs except "Chhoti Si Duniya Mohabbat Ki" and "Ande Se Aayee Murgi" — Hindi • Badi Bahen(1992) — All songs — Hindi • Dil Aashna Hai — All songs — Hindi • Mr. Bond — "Jab Do Dil Milte Hain" — Hindi • Nargis — All songs — Hindi • 1993 — Lootere — "Aa Ja Aanewale Aaja", "Oye Pape", and "Meri Barbaad Mohabbat Pukare" — Hindi • Apaatkaal — All songs — Hindi • Laqshya — "Tere Bina O Mere", "Bekhudi Ke Nashe", and "Raftar Hai Zindagi Ki" — Hindi • 1994 — Andaz Apna Apna — All songs — Hindi • Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa — All songs — Hindi • Baazi — All songs except "Na Jaane Kya Ho Gaya" • 1995 — Akele Hum Akele Tum — All songs — Hindi • Guddu — All songs • Paandav — Ye Haina Pyar Hi To Haina", "Pyar Ka Andaz Tum", and "Ye Chaman Jo Jal Gaya" — Hindi • 1996 — Khamoshi: The Musical — All songs — Hindi • Ghatak — All songs except "Koi Jaaye To Le Aaye" — Hindi • Daraar — "Main Hi Main" — Hindi • Aisi Bhi Kya Jaldi Hai... — All songs — Hindi • Naam Kya Hai — All songs — Hindi • 1997 — Dil Ke Jharoke Main — All songs — Hindi • Yugpurush — All songs • Asha Bhosle's Jaanam Samjha Karo — All songs — Hindi • 1998 — Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge! — All songs — Hindi • 1999 — Kartoos — All songs • Dahek — All songs • Jaanam Samjha Karo — All songs — Hindi • Pyaar Koi Khel Nahin — All songs — Hindi • 2000 — Hum To Mohabbat Karega — All songs — Hindi • Kya Kehna — All songs — Hindi • Pukar — All songs except "Kay Sera Sera" • 2001 — One 2 Ka 4 — All songs — Hindi • Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachaao — All songs — Hindi

• Illustration — Sultanpuri on a 2013 stamp of India Majrooh went on to write lyrics for popular films throughout the 1950s. Along with Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Khumar Barabankvi, Majrooh was considered the most notable ghazal writer. Majrooh won his only Filmfare Best Lyricist Award for the song "Chahunga Mein Tujhe Saanj Savere" from Dosti in 1965. He was also awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1993 and became the first lyricist to win the prestigious award.