On his birth centenary, here’s remembering the fabled poet and song lyricist.
The melodious song ‘Kabhi Kabhi’ was first published in Sahir’s Talkhiyan with the title ‘Kabhi Kabhi.
Hard to be found in Sahir’s own voice, a part of the ghazal was read by Amitabh Bachchan for Yash Chopra’s movie Kabhi Kabhie.
Besides the original ghazal, the lyrics, as penned for the film, were sung by Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar in the composition of Khayyam Saab:
Kabhi kabhi mere dil main khayaal aata hai
Ki zindagi teri zulfon ki narm chhaanv main
Guzarne paati to shadab ho bhi sakti thi
Ye teergi jo meri ziist ka muqaddar hai
Teri nazar ki shuaon main kho bhi sakti thi
Ajab na tha ki main begana-e-alam ho kar
Tire jamal ki ra’ana’iyonmain kho rahta
Tera gudaz-badan teri nim-baaz ankhein
Inhi haseen fasanon main mahv ho rahta
Pukartin mujhe jab talḳhiyan zamane ki
Tere labon se halavat ke ghoont pi leta
Hayat chiḳhti phirti barahna sar aur main
Ghaneri zulfon ke saaye main chhup ke ji leta
Magar ye ho na…