The man who made Urdu literarture, a part of Bollywood film industry. He was an amateur in writing but was better than many great writers. He passed his tests with flying colours and made entry to the world of writing. Meet him here.
Kaifi Azmi, born as Sayyid Akhtar Hussein Rizvi, is a renowned name in Urdu literature and the Bollywood film industry. He was born on this day in 1919 and is celebrated for his contributions to both fields. Azmi’s journey as a writer began at a young age when he wrote his first ghazal at the age of 11.
His father and family were initially skeptical of his writing prowess. They decided to test his skills by giving him a couple of lines and asking him to write a ghazal in the same meter and rhyme. To their astonishment, Azmi passed the test with full distinction. This ghazal was later sung by the legendary Begum Akhtar.
Initially, Azmi focused on writing love poetry like many other ghazal writers. However, with time, his taste and thinking evolved, leading him to write thought-provoking lines that resonated with the masses. One of his most famous works is the poem “Aurat” which beautifully captures his perspective on women’s empowerment.
“Uth meri jaan! Mere saath hi chalna hai tujhe Goshay-goshay mein sulagti hai chita tere liye Farz ka bhes badalti hai qaza tere liye Qahar hai teri har ik narm ada tere liye Zahr hi zahr hai duniya ki hawa tere liye Rut badal daal agar phoolna falna hai tujhe Uth meri jaan! Mere saath hi chalna hai tujhe”
Azmi’s poetry is not only powerful but also reflects his deep understanding of societal issues. His words have the ability to inspire and provoke change. He believed in the power of revolution and emphasized the need for unity sacrifice for a greater cause.
Kaifi Azmi doesn’t need an introduction in the literary world, but his poem “Aurat” perfectly defines his thoughts. His words are a testament to his understanding of women’s empowerment and the struggle for equality.
Azmi’s poems have touched the hearts of millions and continue to be celebrated today. His work has been sung and recited by various artists and remains relevant in contemporary times. Listening to Azmi himself reciting his poems at All India Mushairas is a treat for poetry enthusiasts.
On this day, we remember and honor the incredible contributions of Kaifi Azmi to Urdu literature and the Bollywood film industry. His legacy lives on, through the powerful words he penned and the impact he made on the artistic world.
In addition to his literary achievements, Kaifi Azmi also had a personal life filled with love and support from his family. He was married to Shaukat Kaifi, an accomplished actress, and together they raised two talented children, Shabana Azmi and Baba Azmi. Shabana Azmi, following in her parents’ footsteps, became a prominent actress in the Indian film industry, while Baba Azmi pursued a successful career as a cinematographer.
Kaifi Azmi’s influence transcended generations, as his children and son-in-law, Javed Akhtar, carried on his creative legacy. Javed Akhtar, a renowned poet and lyricist in his own right, continued to uphold the values and principles that Kaifi Azmi held dear.
The impact of Kaifi Azmi’s work extended beyond just the literary and film industry. He was deeply committed to social activism and used his influence and platform to fight for social justice and equality. He was a vocal advocate for women’s rights and played a significant role in raising awareness about the struggles faced by marginalized communities.
Kaifi Azmi’s contributions to Indian cinema and Urdu literature were recognized and honored by numerous awards and accolades throughout his lifetime. He received several prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri and the Sahitya Akademi Award, for his outstanding contributions to the world of art and literature.
Today, on his birth anniversary, we remember Kaifi Azmi as a visionary, a rebel with a cause, and a poetic genius. His heartfelt words continue to inspire and move us, reminding us of the power of literature and the ability of art to create positive change in the world. The legacy of Kaifi Azmi lives on, ensuring that his words and ideals will continue to resonate with generations to come.
Like any other ghazal writer, he also started with love poetry. But with time his taste and thinking made him write lines like :
कर चले, हम फिदा जान-ओ-तन साथियों
अब तुम्हारे हवाले, वतन साथियों
प्यार का जश्न नई तरह मनाना होगा
ग़म किसी दिल में सही ग़म को मिटाना होगा
कोई तो सूद चुकाए, कोई तो ज़िम्मा ले
उस इंकिलाब का, जो आज तक उधार सा है
*Meter in a ghazal means all couplets have same number of characters.
यूं तो कैफी आज़मी को किसी तार्रुफ की ज़रूरत ही नहीं है, उनकी ग़ज़ल ‘औरत’ की ये कुछ लाइनें उनकी सोच को पूरी तरह से परिभाषित करती हैं.
उठ मेरी जान! मेरे साथ ही चलना है तुझे
गोशे-गोशे में सुलगती है चिता तेरे लिये
फ़र्ज़ का भेस बदलती है क़ज़ा तेरे लिये
क़हर है तेरी हर इक नर्म अदा तेरे लिये
ज़हर ही ज़हर है दुनिया की हवा तेरे लिये
रुत बदल डाल अगर फूलना फलना है तुझे
उठ मेरी जान! मेरे साथ ही चलना है तुझे
क़द्र अब तक तिरी तारीख़ ने जानी ही नहीं
तुझ में शोले भी हैं बस अश्कफ़िशानी ही नहीं
तू हक़ीक़त भी है दिलचस्प कहानी ही नहीं
तेरी हस्ती भी है इक चीज़ जवानी ही नहीं
अपनी तारीख़ का उनवान बदलना है तुझे
उठ मेरी जान! मेरे साथ ही चलना है तुझे
तोड़ कर रस्म के बुत बन्द-ए-क़दामत से निकल
ज़ोफ़-ए-इशरत से निकल वहम-ए-नज़ाकत से निकल
नफ़स के खींचे हुये हल्क़ा-ए-अज़मत से निकल
क़ैद बन जाये मुहब्बत तो मुहब्बत से निकल
राह का ख़ार ही क्या गुल भी कुचलना है तुझे
उठ मेरी जान! मेरे साथ ही चलना है तुझे
Listen to Kaifi Azmi reciting his poems at All India Mushairas.
Rebel with a cause (Official website of Kaifi Azmi)
Kaifi Azmi with Family (Wife Shaukat Kaifi, Daughter Shabana Azmi, Son in law Javed Akhtar, Son Bobby Azmi and Daughter in law Tanvi AzmiKaifi Azmi with Shabana AzmiKaifi Azmi with Shaukat Kaifi and Shabana Azmi
NehaScope 
Kaifi Azmi, born as Sayyid Akhtar Hussein Rizvi, is a renowned name in Urdu literature and the Bollywood film industry. He was born on this day in 1919 and is celebrated for his contributions to both fields. Azmi’s journey as a writer began at a young age when he wrote his first ghazal at the age of 11.
His father and family were initially skeptical of his writing prowess. They decided to test his skills by giving him a couple of lines and asking him to write a ghazal in the same meter and rhyme. To their astonishment, Azmi passed the test with full distinction. This ghazal was later sung by the legendary Begum Akhtar.
Initially, Azmi focused on writing love poetry like many other ghazal writers. However, with time, his taste and thinking evolved, leading him to write thought-provoking lines that resonated with the masses. One of his most famous works is the poem “Aurat” which beautifully captures his perspective on women’s empowerment.
“Uth meri jaan! Mere saath hi chalna hai tujhe Goshay-goshay mein sulagti hai chita tere liye Farz ka bhes badalti hai qaza tere liye Qahar hai teri har ik narm ada tere liye Zahr hi zahr hai duniya ki hawa tere liye Rut badal daal agar phoolna falna hai tujhe Uth meri jaan! Mere saath hi chalna hai tujhe”
Azmi’s poetry is not only powerful but also reflects his deep understanding of societal issues. His words have the ability to inspire and provoke change. He believed in the power of revolution and emphasized the need for unity sacrifice for a greater cause.
Kaifi Azmi doesn’t need an introduction in the literary world, but his poem “Aurat” perfectly defines his thoughts. His words are a testament to his understanding of women’s empowerment and the struggle for equality.
Azmi’s poems have touched the hearts of millions and continue to be celebrated today. His work has been sung and recited by various artists and remains relevant in contemporary times. Listening to Azmi himself reciting his poems at All India Mushairas is a treat for poetry enthusiasts.
On this day, we remember and honor the incredible contributions of Kaifi Azmi to Urdu literature and the Bollywood film industry. His legacy lives on, through the powerful words he penned and the impact he made on the artistic world.
In addition to his literary achievements, Kaifi Azmi also had a personal life filled with love and support from his family. He was married to Shaukat Kaifi, an accomplished actress, and together they raised two talented children, Shabana Azmi and Baba Azmi. Shabana Azmi, following in her parents’ footsteps, became a prominent actress in the Indian film industry, while Baba Azmi pursued a successful career as a cinematographer.
Kaifi Azmi’s influence transcended generations, as his children and son-in-law, Javed Akhtar, carried on his creative legacy. Javed Akhtar, a renowned poet and lyricist in his own right, continued to uphold the values and principles that Kaifi Azmi held dear.
The impact of Kaifi Azmi’s work extended beyond just the literary and film industry. He was deeply committed to social activism and used his influence and platform to fight for social justice and equality. He was a vocal advocate for women’s rights and played a significant role in raising awareness about the struggles faced by marginalized communities.
Kaifi Azmi’s contributions to Indian cinema and Urdu literature were recognized and honored by numerous awards and accolades throughout his lifetime. He received several prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri and the Sahitya Akademi Award, for his outstanding contributions to the world of art and literature.
Today, on his birth anniversary, we remember Kaifi Azmi as a visionary, a rebel with a cause, and a poetic genius. His heartfelt words continue to inspire and move us, reminding us of the power of literature and the ability of art to create positive change in the world. The legacy of Kaifi Azmi lives on, ensuring that his words and ideals will continue to resonate with generations to come.
Like any other ghazal writer, he also started with love poetry. But with time his taste and thinking made him write lines like :
*Meter in a ghazal means all couplets have same number of characters.यूं तो कैफी आज़मी को किसी तार्रुफ की ज़रूरत ही नहीं है, उनकी ग़ज़ल ‘औरत’ की ये कुछ लाइनें उनकी सोच को पूरी तरह से परिभाषित करती हैं.
Listen to Kaifi Azmi reciting his poems at All India Mushairas.
Rebel with a cause (Official website of Kaifi Azmi)
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