Akhtar ul Iman
Encyclopedia
Akhtar ul Iman was a noted Urdu poet and screenwriter
in Hindi cinema, who had major influence on modern Urdu nazm
.
He won the Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue
in 1963 for Dharmputra
and 1966 for Waqt
. He was awarded the 1962 Sahitya Akademi Award
in Urdu, for his Poetry Collection, Yadein (Memories), by Sahitya Akademi
, India's National Academy of Letters,
, in Bijnor
district of Uttar Pradesh
in 1915.
His initial education happened at Bijnor
, where he came in contact with Khurshid ul Islam, poet and scholar, who taught at Aligarh Muslim University
, and developed a long association with Ralph Russell
), he graduated from the Anglo-Arabic College (Zakir Husain College), Delhi.
at Delhi
. From 1945 after he moved to Mumbai (then Bombay), he started working for Hindi cinema as a script writer.
His poetry is highly individualistic and innovative. He stands apart from other poets of his time in his themes, style, language. He preferred nazm
over more popular ghazal
as a mean of poetic expression. Akhtar ul Iman's language is "coarse and unpoetic". He uses 'coarse" and mundane poetic expressions to make his message effective and realistic. His poetry strives to find out a balance between the conflicting or extreme choices faced by man. He chose free verse for his nazms to make his conversational style of expression more realistic.
He was strongly influenced by Meeraji
and N M Rashid and is more closer and similar to them than other poets of his era. He was close friend of Meeraji and Meeraji lived with him till his death. They together formed Halqa-e-Arbab-e-Adab (Circle of friends of Poetry). Poets who belong to this circle wrote independent of the ideology and standards set by Progressive Writers' Movement
, although they were few in numbers but contributed significantly and had major influence on later generations of poets. It was also a starting point of Modernisnm in Urdu.
He left behind a substantial legacy for new generation of poetss to follow and exploring new trends and themes in modern Urdu poetry giving a new direction to the modern and contemporary Urdu nazm with emphasis on philosophical humanism.
He was the father-in-law of actor Amjad Khan
.
Autobiography of a famous Urdu writer of India.
Tareek Sayyara (1943)
Gardyab(1946)
Aabjoo (1959)
Yaden(1961)
Bint-e-Lamhaat(1969)
Naya Ahang (1977)
Sar-o-Samaan (1983)
Play
Sabrang (1948)- a one verse play.
, which became a big hit of its time. Kanoon became a hit despite the fact that it had no songs or comedy sequences, this achievement remains unparalleled in Hindi cinema. His other important movies where he contributed as a script writer are Dharmputra
(1961), for which he received filmfare award, Gumrah, Waqt, Patther ke Sanam, Daagh.
He wrote few lyrics for Hindi cinema, and the one movie which has his lyrics written by him is Bikhare Moti.
and Numerous other literary awards.
Lahu Pukarega (1980) - director
Do Musafir (1978) - writer
Chandi Sona (1977) - writer
Zameer (1975) - writer
36 Ghante (1974) - writer
Roti (1974) - writer
Naya Nasha (1973) - writer
Bada Kabutar
(1973) - writer
Daag
(1973) - writer
Dhund
(1973) - writer
Joshila
(1973) - writer
Kunwara Badan (1973) - writer
Dastaan (1972) - writer
Joroo Ka Ghulam (1972) - writer
Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969) - writer
Chirag (1969) - writer
Ittefaq
(1969) - writer
Aadmi (1968) - writer
Hamraaz
(1967) - writer
Patthar Ke Sanam (1967) - writer
Gaban
(1966) - writer
Mera Saaya
(1966) - writer
Phool Aur Patthar
(1966) - writer
Bhoot Bungla (1965) - writer
Waqt
(1965) - writer
Shabnam (1964) - writer
Yaadein
(1964) - writer
Aaj Aur Kal
(1963) - writer
Akeli Mat Jaiyo (1963) - writer
Gumrah
(1963) - writer
Neeli Aankhen (1962) - writer
Dharmputra (1961) - writer
Flat No. 9 (1961) - writer
Barood (1960) - writer
Kalpana (1960) - writer
Kanoon
(1960) - writer
Nirdosh (1950) - writer
Actress (1948) - writer
Jharna (1948) - writer
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
in Hindi cinema, who had major influence on modern Urdu nazm
Nazm
Urdu Nazm is a major part of the Urdu poetry, that is normally written in rhymed verse and also in modern prose style poems. Nazm has many different forms as,* Doha * Geet * Hamd * Hazal * Hijv...
.
He won the Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue
Filmfare Best Dialogue Award
The Filmfare Best Dialogue Award is given by the Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films. Here is a list of the award winners since 1958 and the films for which they won.-Superlatives:Most AwardsGulzar - 4...
in 1963 for Dharmputra
Dharmputra
Dharmputra is a 1961 Hindi film directed by Yash Chopra. This is Yash's second directorial venture based on a novel by Acharya Chatursen Shastry.- Synopsis :...
and 1966 for Waqt
Waqt (1965 film)
Waqt is a 1965 Indian film directed by Yash Chopra. It made it onto the BFI's long list of films in consideration for their top ten of Indian films award. It was produced by B.R...
. He was awarded the 1962 Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honor in India which Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of outstanding works in one of the following twenty-four major Indian languagesAssamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri,...
in Urdu, for his Poetry Collection, Yadein (Memories), by Sahitya Akademi
Sahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi ', India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India...
, India's National Academy of Letters,
Early life and education
Born in Qila, NajibabadNajibabad
Najibabad is a pleasant city / partially hill station and a municipal board in Bijnor district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It has a railway junction and is one of the administrative blocks of the Bijnor district...
, in Bijnor
Bijnor
Bijnor variously spelt as Bijnaur and Bijnour, is a city and a municipal board in Bijnor district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India...
district of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
in 1915.
His initial education happened at Bijnor
Bijnor
Bijnor variously spelt as Bijnaur and Bijnour, is a city and a municipal board in Bijnor district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India...
, where he came in contact with Khurshid ul Islam, poet and scholar, who taught at Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University ,is a residential academic university, established in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan as Mohammedan Angelo-Oriental College and later granted the status of Central University by an Act of the Indian Parliament in 1920...
, and developed a long association with Ralph Russell
Ralph Russell
Professor Ralph Russell SI was a British scholar of Urdu literature and a Communist. He was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, UK. He taught Urdu and Urdu literature at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and also in universities in India and Pakistan...
), he graduated from the Anglo-Arabic College (Zakir Husain College), Delhi.
Career
After graduating from Delhi University, he worked in Civil Supplies Department and All India RadioAll India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
at Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
. From 1945 after he moved to Mumbai (then Bombay), he started working for Hindi cinema as a script writer.
His poetry is highly individualistic and innovative. He stands apart from other poets of his time in his themes, style, language. He preferred nazm
Nazm
Urdu Nazm is a major part of the Urdu poetry, that is normally written in rhymed verse and also in modern prose style poems. Nazm has many different forms as,* Doha * Geet * Hamd * Hazal * Hijv...
over more popular ghazal
Ghazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
as a mean of poetic expression. Akhtar ul Iman's language is "coarse and unpoetic". He uses 'coarse" and mundane poetic expressions to make his message effective and realistic. His poetry strives to find out a balance between the conflicting or extreme choices faced by man. He chose free verse for his nazms to make his conversational style of expression more realistic.
He was strongly influenced by Meeraji
Meeraji
Meeraji was an eminent Urdu poet. He lived the life of a bohemian and worked only intermittently.-Early life:...
and N M Rashid and is more closer and similar to them than other poets of his era. He was close friend of Meeraji and Meeraji lived with him till his death. They together formed Halqa-e-Arbab-e-Adab (Circle of friends of Poetry). Poets who belong to this circle wrote independent of the ideology and standards set by Progressive Writers' Movement
Progressive Writers' Movement
The Anjuman Tarraqi Pasand Mussanafin-e-Hind or Progressive Writers' Movement was a progressive literary movement in the pre-partition British India, consisting of a few different writers groups around the world....
, although they were few in numbers but contributed significantly and had major influence on later generations of poets. It was also a starting point of Modernisnm in Urdu.
He left behind a substantial legacy for new generation of poetss to follow and exploring new trends and themes in modern Urdu poetry giving a new direction to the modern and contemporary Urdu nazm with emphasis on philosophical humanism.
He was the father-in-law of actor Amjad Khan
Amjad Khan
Amjad Khan was an acclaimed Indian actor and director. He worked in over 130 films in his film career spanning nearly twenty years. He enjoyed popularity for his villainous roles in Hindi films the most famous being the unforgettable Gabbar Singh in 1975 classic Sholay...
.
Books
• Iss Aabad Kharabe Mein (URDU)-published by Urdu Academy, Delhi, India.Autobiography of a famous Urdu writer of India.
Poetry
He has about seven collections of poetry to his credit.Tareek Sayyara (1943)
Gardyab(1946)
Aabjoo (1959)
Yaden(1961)
Bint-e-Lamhaat(1969)
Naya Ahang (1977)
Sar-o-Samaan (1983)
Play
Sabrang (1948)- a one verse play.
Translation and Compilation by others
- Zamistan Sard Mehrika (URDU)- Last Poetic Collection of an unforgettable Urdu poet. Compiled and edited by Sultana Iman and Bedar Bakht.
- Query of the Road - Selected Poems of Akhtar-ul-Iman with Extensive Commentary by Baidar Bakht
Indian Cinema
His contribution to Hindi cinema is quite significant keeping in view the number of landmark and hit movies he has contributed to as a script writer (dialogue, story and screenplay). His first landmark movie was KanoonKanoon
Kanoon is a 1960 Indian Hindi film directed by B.R. Chopra. The film stars Rajendra Kumar, Nanda, Ashok Kumar, Mehmood , Shashikala, Jeevan and Om Prakash...
, which became a big hit of its time. Kanoon became a hit despite the fact that it had no songs or comedy sequences, this achievement remains unparalleled in Hindi cinema. His other important movies where he contributed as a script writer are Dharmputra
Dharmputra
Dharmputra is a 1961 Hindi film directed by Yash Chopra. This is Yash's second directorial venture based on a novel by Acharya Chatursen Shastry.- Synopsis :...
(1961), for which he received filmfare award, Gumrah, Waqt, Patther ke Sanam, Daagh.
He wrote few lyrics for Hindi cinema, and the one movie which has his lyrics written by him is Bikhare Moti.
Awards
Literary awards- 1962: Sahitya Akademi AwardSahitya Akademi AwardSahitya Akademi Award is a literary honor in India which Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of outstanding works in one of the following twenty-four major Indian languagesAssamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri,...
- Urdu: Yadein (Poetry) - Iqbal Samman
and Numerous other literary awards.
- Filmfare Award
- 1963: Best DialogueFilmfare Best Dialogue AwardThe Filmfare Best Dialogue Award is given by the Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films. Here is a list of the award winners since 1958 and the films for which they won.-Superlatives:Most AwardsGulzar - 4...
: DharmputraDharmputraDharmputra is a 1961 Hindi film directed by Yash Chopra. This is Yash's second directorial venture based on a novel by Acharya Chatursen Shastry.- Synopsis :... - 1966: Best DialogueFilmfare Best Dialogue AwardThe Filmfare Best Dialogue Award is given by the Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films. Here is a list of the award winners since 1958 and the films for which they won.-Superlatives:Most AwardsGulzar - 4...
: WaqtWaqt (1965 film)Waqt is a 1965 Indian film directed by Yash Chopra. It made it onto the BFI's long list of films in consideration for their top ten of Indian films award. It was produced by B.R...
- 1963: Best Dialogue
Filmography
Chor Police (1983) - writerLahu Pukarega (1980) - director
Do Musafir (1978) - writer
Chandi Sona (1977) - writer
Zameer (1975) - writer
36 Ghante (1974) - writer
Roti (1974) - writer
Naya Nasha (1973) - writer
Bada Kabutar
Bada Kabutar
Bada Kabutar is a 1973 Bollywood action comedy film directed by Deven Verma. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan and Helen.-Cast:*Amitabh Bachchan ... Guest appearance*Helen ... Dancer*Pinchoo Kapoor ... Dharamdas...
(1973) - writer
Daag
Daag: A Poem of Love
Daag: A Poem of Love is a 1973 Bollywood film produced and directed by Yash Chopra in his debut as a producer, which laid the foundation of Yash Raj Films. It is an adaptation of the novel The Mayor of Casterbridge....
(1973) - writer
Dhund
Dhund
Dhund may refer to:*Dhond Abbasi, a tribe of northern Pakistan.*Dhund - a 1973 Indian film*Dhund - a 2003 Indian film...
(1973) - writer
Joshila
Joshila
Joshila is a 1973 Bollywood thriller film directed by Yash Chopra. The film stars Dev Anand, Rakhee Gulzar and Hema Malini.-Plot:The path of love, they say, never runs smooth, especially a path with its beginning in a prison. Joshila is the saga of such a love story which blossomed, within the...
(1973) - writer
Kunwara Badan (1973) - writer
Dastaan (1972) - writer
Joroo Ka Ghulam (1972) - writer
Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969) - writer
Chirag (1969) - writer
Ittefaq
Ittefaq (film)
Ittefaq is a 1969 Hindi movie produced by B. R. Chopra and directed by his brother Yash Chopra. The film stars Rajesh Khanna, Nanda, Bindu, Madan Puri, Iftekhar and has music by Salil Choudhury. The film became a "semi-hit" at the box office...
(1969) - writer
Aadmi (1968) - writer
Hamraaz
Hamraaz
Hamraaz is a 1967 Hindi film produced and directed by B. R. Chopra. The film stars Sunil Dutt, Raaj Kumar, Mumtaz, Sarika, Madan Puri, Iftekhar, Balraj Sahni, Jeevan, Helen and Vimi. The films music is by Ravi...
(1967) - writer
Patthar Ke Sanam (1967) - writer
Gaban
Gaban (1966 film)
Gaban is 1966 Hindi film directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, based on Munshi Premchand's classic novel by the same name. It had Sunil Dutt and Sadhna playing the lead role...
(1966) - writer
Mera Saaya
Mera Saaya
Mera Saaya is a 1966 Indian Hindi film directed by Raj Khosla. The film was a remake of Marathi film called Pathlag. The film's music is by Madan Mohan and lyrics by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. The film stars Sunil Dutt and Sadhana. This is director Raj Khosla's third film with Sadhana after Ek Musafir...
(1966) - writer
Phool Aur Patthar
Phool Aur Patthar
Phool Aur Patthar was O.P. Ralhan's 1966 Hindi film that made Dharmendra a star in the Hindi Film Industry. It starred Meena Kumari along with Dharmendra who played a villainous character whose inner good being is drawn out by Meena Kumari...
(1966) - writer
Bhoot Bungla (1965) - writer
Waqt
Waqt
Waqt is the Urdu and Arabic word for Time. It may also refer to:* the time schedule for Muslim prayers, see Salat times* Waqt, song from the Pakistani rock band Entity Paradigm* Waqt, a 1965 film directed by Yash Chopra...
(1965) - writer
Shabnam (1964) - writer
Yaadein
Yaadein (1964 film)
Yaadein is a 1964 B&W Hindi film directed and produced by Sunil Dutt also starring himself...
(1964) - writer
Aaj Aur Kal
Aaj Aur Kal (1963 film)
Aaj Aur Kal is a 1963 Hindi movie produced and directed by Vasant Joglekar. The film stars Sunil Dutt, Nanda, Raj Kumar, Tanuja, Ashok Kumar and Deven Verma.- Cast :*Sunil Dutt* Nanda*Raj Kumar*Tanuja*Ashok Kumar*Agha*Dhumal*Deven Verma-Music:...
(1963) - writer
Akeli Mat Jaiyo (1963) - writer
Gumrah
Gumrah
Gumrah is a 1963 Hindi film produced and directed by B. R. Chopra. The film stars Sunil Dutt, Ashok Kumar, Mala Sinha, Nirupa Roy, Deven Verma and Shashikala. The film's music was composed by Ravi which was a plus point...
(1963) - writer
Neeli Aankhen (1962) - writer
Dharmputra (1961) - writer
Flat No. 9 (1961) - writer
Barood (1960) - writer
Kalpana (1960) - writer
Kanoon
Kanoon
Kanoon is a 1960 Indian Hindi film directed by B.R. Chopra. The film stars Rajendra Kumar, Nanda, Ashok Kumar, Mehmood , Shashikala, Jeevan and Om Prakash...
(1960) - writer
Nirdosh (1950) - writer
Actress (1948) - writer
Jharna (1948) - writer
Further reading
- Akhtar Ul Iman by Ghulam Rizvi 'gardish'. Sahitya AkademiSahitya AkademiThe Sahitya Akademi ', India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India...
Publications. ISBN 81-260-0920-9.
External links
- Verses of Akhtarul Iman
- http://oldpoetry.com/oauthor/show/Akhtar-Ul-Iman
- http://urdulife.com/mushaira/poet.cgi?ara_akhtar_ul_iman (poetry recitation in his own voice)
- http://www.chakpak.com/celebrity/akhtar-ul-iman/filmography/9950
- http://www.hindimovie.com/people/writers/Akhtar-ul-iman/filmography
- http://movies.obuzz.com/celebrities/akhtaruliman/
- http://www.geocities.com/kavitayan/akhtar.html (Archived 2009-10-24) (English translation of four poems)
- http://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC&pg=PA120&lpg=PA120&dq=akhtar+ul+iman&source=web&ots=mUzV1uyQv9&sig=VdLt-QEZp2L_f35rOkLumnvFXVs#PPA120,M1
- http://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&pg=PA438&dq=akhtar+ul+iman&lr=&sig=ACfU3U1QIxFW04IWkLQV1Hce_V18sjidng#PPA1144,M1 Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology By K. M. George, Sahitya Akademi
- http://www.urduzoom.com/categories.php?catid=31