Saifuddin Saif

Pakistani lyricist, poet, film producer-director (1922–1993)
  • Lyricist
  • Poet
  • Film producer
  • Director
LanguageUrdu, PunjabiNationalityPakistaniAlma materGovt. M.A.O. College LahoreSubjectPolitics, EntertainmentLiterary movementProgressive Writers' MovementYears active1948 – 1993Notable awardsTwo Nigar Awards (1957)
Best Film Saat Lakh (1957)
Best Script/Story Writer for film Saat Lakh (1957)

Saifuddin Saif (20 March 1922 – 12 July 1993) was a Pakistani lyricist, poet, film producer-director, and the founder of Rehnuma Films, a film studio of 1954.[1]

He was involved in writing poems and lyrics before and after the Partition. However, most of his films written before partition remained unreleased due to political instabilities in the subcontinent.[2][3] He was best known for his film Kartar Singh (1959), and is also credited for writing lyrics for Pakistan's historical and first-ever feature film Teri Yaad, which helped him to appear among the prominent writers.[4]

As a poet, he wrote eleven gazals and four nazms on various subjects, including fifteen on friendship, fifteen on social issues, one on hope, and a poetic book titled Kham-e-Kakul, also known as Khan-e-Kamal (amazing ruler).[4]

Early life and education

Saifuddin was born on 20 March 1922 in the household of Khawaja Meraj Din and was raised in Amritsar in British India.[1][5][4] He received his education from the Govt. M.A.O. College Lahore, but left midway after he was barred from taking part in board exams over joining political activism of the Khaksar Movement, a social movement aimed at freeing India from the British Raj.[2][1]

Career

Saif started his career as a lyricist, but his childhood was originally associated with poetry writings and after leaving the college, he pursued poetry as a career.[1] He migrated to Pakistan following the partition and settled in Lahore where he initially worked as a dialogue writer and lyricist in the cinema of Pakistan. He later established Rahnuma Films, a full-fledged filmmaking production in 1954.[4] He also wrote lyrics before partition, but none of the films was released. After his migration to Pakistan, all the films he worked for were released, and he was subsequently considered one of the prominent filmmakers of Pakistan.[2]

His first film as a lyricist was Hichkolay (1949),[5] and later wrote songs for Amanat in 1950 and Naveli in 1952. His work for Ghulam and Mehbooba films of 1953 are generally recognized as his commercial success. After his commercial success, he established his film company called Rahnuma Films. He also worked as a producer, director and scriptwriter in Raat Ki Baat and Saat Lakh (1957), including Lollywood's historical film Kartar Singh (1959), which is claimed to have covered real events and bloodshed of the 1947 partition.[6][7]

He wrote "Payal Main Geet Hain Chham Chham Ke" song for film Gumnaam (1954) and also film songs for film Qatil (1955).[8]

couplet by Saifuddin Saif

Dekha to phir vaheen thay chalay thay jahan se hum,
Kashti kay saath saath kinaray chalay gaye.

Translation: We found ourselves to be where we had begun our journey,
The coast moved as did the boat.[9]

Besides films, he primarily used to write poems which were sung by the prominent Pakistani singers, including Noor Jehan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and Mahdi Hasan. Saif wrote a book titled Khan-e-Kamal, comprising a collection of gazals.[2]

Work

Key
† Remarks denote a short description of the work where available.
# Title Year Type/Credited as Remarks
1 Teri Yaad[1][4] 1948 Lyricist
2 Hichkoley[1][5][4] 1949 Lyricist
3 Amanat[4] 1950 Lyricist
4 Naveli[1][4] 1952 Lyricist
5 Ghulam[4] 1953 Lyricist
6 Mehbooba[5][4] 1953 Lyricist
7 Raat Kee Baat[5][4] 1954 Writer, producer-director[2] The film flopped under the Rehnuma Films banner[5]
8 Gumnaam[1][5] 1954 Song-writer
9 Qatil[8] 1955 Song-writer
10 Saat Lakh[4][1][5] 1957 Writer, producer-director[2] It was Pakistan's first film that won Nigar Awards[10][5]
11 Kartar Singh[4][1][5] 1959 Writer, producer-director[2][4] After the success of film Kartar Singh, he became one of the most sought-after producer/directors in Pakistan[2]
12 Roopmati Baaz Bahadur 1960 lyricist
13 Darwaza[1] 1962 producer-director
14 Madr-e-Watan[1] 1966 Producer-director[11]
15 Kham-e-Kakul[4] 1992 Poetry Also known as Khan-e-Kamal

Awards and recognition

  • Nigar Award for Saifuddin Saif as Best Script/Story Writer for film Saat Lakh (1957)[12][1][5]
  • Nigar Award for Best Film Saat Lakh (1957)[12][1]

Bibliography

  • Saif, Saifuddin (1992). Kham-e-Kakul. al Hamd Publications. Retrieved 3 July 2020.

Death

Saifuddin Saif died on 12 July 1993 in Lahore, Pakistan at age 70 and is buried near Model Town, Lahore cemetery.[2][1][4] His life is covered in a MPhil thesis book titled Shair-e-Kujkulah by Robina Shaista.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Profile of Saifuddin Saif". Cineplot.com website. 5 January 2010. Archived from the original on 10 October 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Adnan Lodhi (12 July 2019). "26th death anniversary of lyricist Saifuddin Saif observed". The Express Tribune newspaper. Archived from the original on 7 February 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  3. ^ Amarjit Chandan (13 August 2017). "Unfinished epic of grief & shame". The Tribune (Indian newspaper). Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Death anniversary of famous poet, filmmaker Saifuddin Saif observed". Associated Press of Pakistan website. 12 July 2017. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Special Feature: Saifuddin Saif Ki Yaad Mein (his death anniversary)". Radio Pakistan website. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  6. ^ Ghosh, Partha S. (23 May 2016). Migrants, Refugees and the Stateless in South Asia. SAGE Publishing India. ISBN 9789351508533 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Roy, Anjali Gera; Chua, Beng Huat (10 November 2014). Travels of Bollywood Cinema: From Bombay to LA. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199088621 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ a b Sarwat Ali (31 January 2010). "Film lyricists as poets". The News International newspaper. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  9. ^ Rehman, Asha’ar (30 November 2018). "Corridors and other peace openings". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  10. ^ "In-Depth – Film Special (film review of 'Saat Lakh' (1957)". Dawn newspaper. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  11. ^ Wazir, Hamid Khan (5 September 2019). "Mushir Kazmi and Naseem Begum became eternal through "Aye Rah-e-Haq Ke Shaheedo"". Dispatch News Desk. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Nigar Award for Saifuddin Saif for film Saat Lakh (1957)". Cineplot.com website. 13 May 2010. Archived from the original on 25 October 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Saifuddin Saif's book presented in entertaining style". The News International.
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Nigar Award for Best Film (for Urdu films)