Saifuddin Saif Explained

Saifuddin Saif
Native Name:سیف الدین سیف
Native Name Lang:ur
Birth Name:Saifuddin
Birth Date:20 March 1922
Birth Place:Amritsar, British India
Death Place:Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Resting Place:near Model Town, Lahore cemetery
Language:Urdu, Punjabi
Nationality:Pakistani
Alma Mater:Govt. M.A.O. College Lahore
Genres:-->
Subject:Politics, Entertainment
Movement:Progressive Writers' Movement
Spouses:-->
Partners:-->
Awards:Two Nigar Awards (1957)
Best Film Saat Lakh (1957)
Best Script/Story Writer for Saat Lakh (1957)
Years Active:1948 1993

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.

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.[1] [2] 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.[3] [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).[5] [6] [3]

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. 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.[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. 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. 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.[1]

His first film as a lyricist was Hichkolay (1949), 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),[3] [7] including Lollywood's historical film Kartar Singh (1959), which is claimed to have covered real events and bloodshed of the 1947 partition.[8] [9]

He wrote "Payal Main Geet Hain Chham Chham Ke" song for film Gumnaam (1954) and also film songs for film Qatil (1955).[10]

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.[1]

Work

style="background:#FFFFCC;"
Remarks denote a short description of the work where available.
TitleYearType/Credited asRemarks
1Teri Yaad1948Lyricist
2Hichkoley1949Lyricist
3Amanat1950Lyricist
4Naveli1952Lyricist
5Ghulam1953Lyricist
6Mehbooba1953Lyricist
7Raat Kee Baat1954Writer, producer-directorThe film flopped under the Rehnuma Films banner
8Gumnaam1954Song-writer
9Qatil1955Song-writer
10Saat Lakh[11] 1957Writer, producer-director It was Pakistan's first film that won Nigar Awards[12]
11Kartar Singh1959Writer, producer-director After the success of film Kartar Singh, he became one of the most sought-after producer/directors in Pakistan
12Roopmati Baaz Bahadur1960lyricist
13Darwaza1962producer-director
14Madr-e-Watan1966Producer-director[13]
15Kham-e-Kakul1992Poetry Also known as Khan-e-Kamal

Awards and recognition

Bibliography

Death

Saifuddin Saif died on 12 July 1993 in Lahore, Pakistan and is buried near Model Town, Lahore cemetery.[1] [15] His life is covered in a MPhil thesis book titled Shair-e-Kujkulah by Robina Shaista.[16]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: 26th death anniversary of lyricist Saifuddin Saif observed. 12 July 2019. The Express Tribune newspaper. 19 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20200207133658/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2011779/4-26th-death-anniversary-lyricist-saifuddin-saif-observed/. 7 February 2020. Adnan Lodhi. dead.
  2. News: Unfinished epic of grief & shame. Amarjit Chandan. The Tribune (Indian newspaper). 13 August 2017. 26 July 2020.
  3. Web site: Saifuddin Saif remembered . Pakistan Today (newspaper). 13 July 2012. 26 July 2020.
  4. Web site: Death anniversary of famous poet, filmmaker Saifuddin Saif observed. Associated Press of Pakistan website. July 12, 2017. 26 July 2020.
  5. Web site: Saifuddin Saif Poetry – Urdu Shayari, Ghazals, Nazams & Poems. UrduPoint.
  6. Web site: Saifuddin Saif Poetry – Love & Sad Shayari, Ghazals, Nazams. UrduPoint.
  7. Web site: Famous Poet Saifuddin Saif Remembered On His Death Anniversary. UrduPoint.
  8. Book: Ghosh, Partha S.. Migrants, Refugees and the Stateless in South Asia. May 23, 2016. SAGE Publishing India. 9789351508533. Google Books.
  9. Book: Travels of Bollywood Cinema: From Bombay to LA. Anjali Gera. Roy. Chua. Beng Huat. Chua Beng Huat. November 10, 2014. Oxford University Press. 9780199088621. Google Books.
  10. News: Film lyricists as poets. The News International newspaper. Sarwat Ali. 31 January 2010. 21 August 2024.
  11. Web site: Special Feature: Saifuddin Saif Ki Yaad Mein (his death anniversary). Radio Pakistan website. 8 December 2023. 19 August 2024. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20231208093406/https://www.radio.gov.pk/programme/12-07-2023/special-featuresaif-uddin-saif-ki-yaad-main.
  12. News: In-Depth – Film Special (film review of 'Saat Lakh' (1957) . Dawn newspaper . 1 June 2020. 21 August 2024.
  13. Web site: Wazir. Hamid Khan. Mushir Kazmi and Naseem Begum became eternal through "Aye Rah-e-Haq Ke Shaheedo". Dispatch News Desk. 5 September 2019 . 19 August 2024.
  14. Web site: Nigar Award for Saifuddin Saif for film Saat Lakh (1957). https://web.archive.org/web/20111025182240/http://cineplot.com/nigar-awards-1957/. Cineplot.com website. 13 May 2010. 25 October 2011. 13 June 2022. dead.
  15. Web site: Profile of Saifuddin Saif. 5 January 2010. Cineplot.com website. https://web.archive.org/web/20111010202746/http://cineplot.com/saifuddin-saif/. dead. 10 October 2011. 13 June 2022.
  16. News: Saifuddin Saif's book presented in entertaining style. The News International.