Fayyaz Hashmi


Fayyaz Hashmi was a Pakistani poet and screenwriter who worked both in the Indian and Pakistani film industry. He penned some memorable songs such as the famous ghazal Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo and Tasveer teri dil mera behela nah sake gi. The latter made the singer Talat Mahmood famous in India back in 1941 and was instrumental in introducing him to the Calcutta film industry. A little known fact about him is that he wrote the famous 'Na tum mere na dil mera', that was sung by Kamla Jharia, among many others. One of the couplets from this ghazal became popular that reads
'aye bas naadaniyon par apni naaz karte hain
abhi dekhi kahan hain aapne naadaniyan meri'

Early life

He was born in Calcutta in 1920. His father, Muhammad Hussain Hashmi, was also a poet with pen name 'Dilgeer' as well as a writer of stage drama. Fayyaz Hashmi was employed as the resident lyricist by the British-owned Gramophone Company of India from 1943 to 1948. "Fayyaz Hashmi wrote his first verse, 'Chaman mein ghuncha-o-gul ka tabassum dekhne walo - Kabhi tum ne haseen kalyon ka murjhana bhi dekha hai', when he was in 7th class." He wrote his very first full songs that Talat Mahmood sang in 1941 and the runaway hit Tasveer teri dil mera behla na sakay gi with music composed by Kamal Das Gupta.

Career in Pakistan

In 1951, he was transferred by his employer, Gramophone Company of India, to Lahore to organise the music scene in Pakistan. There he promoted many talented artists including Farida Khanum, Saeen Marna, Saeen Akhtar and Saeen Budha.
He turned to writing of film songs in 1956. Kunwari Bewa was the first Pakistani film with his songs. He wrote more than 2000 songs for films and the Gramophone Recording Company in his lifetime. He also wrote the stories, dialogues and scripts of many hit films, and received numerous awards during his career.

Awards and recognition

Fayyaz Hashmi worked as a film song lyricist for the following movies:

In India

He also worked as a writer and director in the following movies: