PROFILE

Name: Iqbal Husain
DOB: April 15 1922
Star sign: Aries
Birthplace: Jaipur, Rajasthan
Occupation: Poet and lyricist

Achievements:

• Hasrat Jaipuri was an Indian poet who wrote in the Hindi and Urdu languages. He was also a renowned film lyricist in Hindi films for which he won the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist, for Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana (Andaz, 1971) and Baharon Phool Barsao (Suraj, 1966), respectively.

• He further received Dr. Ambedkar Award for Jhanak Jhanak Tori Baaje Payaliya (Mere Huzoor, 1968), a Brajbhasha song.

• He was the recipient of Josh Malihabadi Award and was also awarded a doctorate from the World University Round Table.

Interesting facts:

• Hasrat Jaipuri did mid-level schooling in Jaipur then studied Urdu and Persian from his paternal grandfather, Fida Husain. He began writing verses, when he was around 20 years old.

• In 1940, Jaipuri came to Bombay and started working as a bus conductor, earning a monthly salary of 11 rupees, while also participating in mushairas.

• At one such event, Prithviraj Kapoor noticed and recommended him to his son, Raj Kapoor. Raj was planning a musical love story, Barsaat (1949) with Shankar-Jaikishan as music composers. Jaipuri wrote his first recorded song, Jiya Beqaraar Hai for the film. His second song (and first duet) was Chhor Gaye Baalam.

• Along with Shailendra, Jaipuri wrote lyrics for all Raj Kapoor films till 1971. After the death of Jaikishan and failures of Mera Naam Joker (1970) and Kal Aaj Aur Kal (1971), Raj Kapoor turned to other lyricists and music directors.

• Kapoor initially wanted to call him back for Prem Rog (1982), but later settled for another lyricist, Amir Qazalbash. The former finally asked the latter to write lyrics for the film Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985). Later, he also invited him to write three songs for the movie Henna (1991).

• Jaipuri alleges that after Raj Kapoor's death, the music composer Ravindra Jain "conspired" to "scrap" his lyrics and replace them with his own lyrics.

• When fellow lyricist Shailendra turned producer with Teesri Kasam (1966), he invited Jaipuri to write lyrics for the movie.

• Jaipuri also wrote screenplay for the movie Hulchul (1951). His last film as a lyricist was Hatya: The Murder (2004).

• Jaipuri has written several books of poetry, in Hindi and Urdu. He once said, "Hindi and Urdu are like two great and inseparable sisters".