My connection with Majrooh Sultanpuri goes back to my childhood. Like many children, I had my own dramatic ways of protesting against my mother, and one of them was singing, at full volume, “Jab dil hi toot gaya to jee ke kya karenge.” At that age, I had little understanding of heartbreak, but the line sounded suitably tragic and effective enough to annoy my mother every single time.

As I grew older, that childish performance turned into genuine admiration for the man behind the words. Majrooh Sultanpuri Sahab was not just a lyricist; he was one of the greatest of Hindi cinema. Over a career spanning more than six decades, he wrote more than 6,000 songs for over 300 films. His lyrics moved effortlessly from romance to philosophy, devotion to mischief, melancholy to celebration.

Few writers have travelled across generations the way he did. His songs were sung by legends ranging from K. L. Saigal to Udit Narayan. He became the first lyricist to be decorated with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1993. In 2013, a commemorative postal stamp was also issued in his honour. Born on 1st October 1919, Majrooh Sultanpuri passed away on 24th May 2000, but his words continue to live on in films, memories, and the dramatic protests of children like me.

Shab-e-intezar ki kashmakash mein na pooch kaise sehar hui,

kabhi ik charagh jala diya kabhi ik charagh bujha diya

– MajroohSultanpuri

शब-ए-इंतिज़ार की कश्मकश में न पूछ कैसे सहर हुई

कभी इक चराग़ जला दिया कभी इक चराग़ बुझा दिया

– मजरूह सुल्तानपुरी

Text and photos by Prerna Jain.