Qateel Shifai
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Qateel Shifai (December 24, 1919 in Haripur, Hazara, – July 11, 2001 in Lahore) was a Pakistani poet.
His real name was Aurangzeb Khan. He adopted Qateel Shifai as his pen name in 1938 under which he was known in the world of Urdu poetry. "Qateel" was his "takhallus" and "Shifai" was in honour of his ustaad Hakim Mohammed 'Shifa' whom he considered his mentor.
Due to his father's early death, Qateel was forced to quit his education. He started his own sporting goods shop. Being unsuccessful in his business he decided to move to Rawalpindi, where he started working for a transport company and earned about 60 Rupees a month.
In 1946, he was called to Lahore by Nazir Ahmed to work as the assistant editor of the monthly 'Adab-e-Latif', a literary magazine published since 1936. His first ghazal was published in the Lahore weekly 'Star', edited by Qamar Jalalabadi.
In January 1947, Qateel was asked to pen the songs of a film by a Lahore based film producer. The first film he penned the lyrics for was "Teri Yaad". After that there was no looking back. He won numerous awards as a lyricist. Many of his poem collections were published, one amongs them being "Mutriba" which got him the highest literature award in Pakistan.
To raise the standards of ghazals in films has been Qateel's primary contribution to Urdu poetry. This was already started by Tanvir Alvi and Sahir Ludhianvi, but perpetuated and concluded by Qateel Shifai. By using simple words and a larger amount of Hindi, Qateel brought Urdu poetry closer to the masses. He established a certain standard to ghazals in films and gave them a certain respectability.
Qateel Shifai worked on numerous ghazal albums with Jagjit and Chitra Singh, as well as with Ghulam Ali to name a few.
Over 20 collections of verse and over 2,500 songs for Pakistani and Indian films were published. His poetry has been translated into numerous languages including Hindi, Gujarati, English, Russian and Chinese.
Qateel Shifai received the 'Pride of Performance Award' in 1994 for his contribution to literature, 'Adamjee Award', 'Naqoosh Award', 'Abbasin Arts Council Award' and 'Amir Khusro Award' in India.
[edit] Trivia
A small part in the middle of Haripur city called mohallah Qateel Shafai is named after him.
The street in which he lived in Lahore is named after him.
His poetry is included in the masters' level syllabus in many universities in Pakistan and India.
[edit] Filmography
- Bade Dilwala (1999) (lyricist)
- Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan (1999) (lyricist)
- Auzaar (1997) (lyricist)
- Naajayaz (1995) (lyricist) (as Qatil Shafai)
- Sir (1993) (lyricist) (as Qateel Shafai)
- Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee (1993) ... aka Your Memories Have Returned (lyricist) (as Qateel Shafai)
- Tahqiqaat (1993) (lyricist) (as Cratil Sipahi)
- Painter Babu (1983) (lyricist)
- Shireen Farhad (1975) (lyricist)
- Naila (1965) (lyricist)
- Intezar (1956) (lyricist)
- Gumnam (1954) (lyricist)
- Gulnaar (1953) (lyricist)
- Teri Yaad (1948) (lyricist) ... aka Memories (International: English title)
