Akhtar ul Iman

Akhtar ul Iman (1915–1996) was a noted Urdu poet and screenwriter in Hindi cinema, who had a major influence on modern Urdu nazm.[1][2]

Akhtar ul Iman
اختر الایمان
Born12 November 1915
Qila Patthargarh, Najibabad, Bijnor district
Died9 March 1996(1996-03-09) (aged 80)
Mumbai
Resting placeBandra Qabristan, Mumbai
NationalityIndian
EducationMaster of Arts in Urdu Literature
Alma materZakir Husain Delhi College
Aligarh Muslim University
Occupationpoet, screenwriter
EmployerFreelance and B.R. Films assigned cine writer (1960–1980)
Known forUrdu Nazm, poet screenwriter and playwright
Spouse(s)Sultana Iman
ChildrenOne son and three daughters
Signature

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.[3]

Early life and education

Born in Qila Patthargarh, Najibabad, in the Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh in 1915.

He gained his initial education at Bijnor, where he came in contact with poet and scholar Khurshid ul Islam – who taught at Aligarh Muslim University – and developed a long association with Ralph Russell. He graduated from the (Zakir Husain College) in Delhi [4] and completed his Masters in Urdu from Aligarh Muslim University. [5]

Career

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.[6]

He left behind a substantial legacy for new generation of poets to follow which explores new trends and themes in modern Urdu poetry giving a new direction to the modern and contemporary Urdu nazm with emphasis on philosophical humanism.[7]

Works

Books

• Iss Aabad Kharabe Mein (Urdu)-published by Urdu Academy, Delhi, India. Autobiography of a famous Urdu writer of India.

Poetry

He has published eight collections:

  • Girdaab (1943)
  • Aabjoo (1944-1945)
  • Tareek Sayyara (1946–47)
  • Yaden (1961)
  • Bint-e-Lamhaat (1969)
  • Naya Ahang (1977)
  • Sar-o-Samaan (1982)
  • Zameen Zameen (1983-1990)

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 significant, keeping in mind the number of landmark and hit movies he has contributed as a script writer (dialogue, story and screenplay). His first landmark movie was Kanoon, which became a big hit despite the fact that it had no songs or comedy sequences. This achievement remains unparalleled in Hindi cinema. Other important movies to which he contributed as a script writer were Dharmputra (1961) – for which he received a filmfare award – Gumrah, Waqt, Patther ke Sanam, and Daagh.

The one movie which has his lyrics is Bikhare Moti.

Awards

Literary awards

and Numerous other literary awards.

Filmography
  • Vijay (1988) – writer
  • Chor Police (1983) – writer
  • 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

Further reading
  • Akhtar Ul Iman by Ghulam Rizvi 'gardish'. Sahitya Akademi Publications. ISBN 81-260-0920-9.

References
  1. Encyclopaedia of Indian literature vol. 1 By various pages 120–121
  2. Akhtar ul-Iman An anthology of modern Urdu poetry, by Rafey Habib. Publisher: Modern Language Association (MLA), 2003. ISBN 0-87352-797-6. p. 109.
  3. Sahitya Akademi Award – Urdu Archived 16 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine Sahitya Akademi Award Official listings.
  4. Alumni Archived 10 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine Zakir Husain College Official website.
  5. "Akhtar up Imam - Columbia University" (PDF).
  6. Modern Indian Literature: An Anthology, by K. M. George, various, Sahitya Akademi
  7. Encyclopaedia of Indian literature vol. 1
  8. Awards IMDb
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