Qateel Shifai

Muhammad Aurangzeb, widely known by his pen name Qateel Shifai, is a celebrated Pakistani Urdu poet and lyricist. He was born on 24 December 1919 in the Haripur District of British India. Throughout his prolific life, he contributed over 2,500 songs to both Pakistani and Indian cinema.

Early life and education

Qateel Shifai was born into a Hindkowan background in Haripur. His father worked as a businessman, though the family had no established tradition of poetry. Following his father's death in 1935, Qateel was forced to abandon his higher education. He initially attempted to run a sports goods shop to support himself. This business venture proved unsuccessful.

He eventually moved from his small town to Rawalpindi. There, he found employment at a transport company earning approximately 60 Rupees per month. In 1938, he adopted the pen name Qateel Shifai. He chose "Qateel" as his takhallus and selected "Shifai" to honor his mentor, Hakeem Mohammed Yahya Shifa Khanpuri.

Career

His literary journey began in 1946 when Nazir Ahmed invited him to Lahore. He served as the assistant editor for the monthly magazine 'Adab-e-Latif'. His debut ghazal appeared in the Lahore weekly 'Star', which was edited by Qamar Ajnalvi. In January 1947, a Lahore-based producer named Dewan Sardari Lal requested his songwriting services. This led to his first film credit for the production "Teri Yaad" in 1948.

Between 1948 and 1955, he worked as an assistant lyricist for several famous poets. He eventually transitioned into a highly successful regular film lyricist. His work spanned 201 films across Pakistan and India. He published over 20 collections of verse during his career.

In 1970, he produced a film in his mother tongue, Hindko, titled "Qissa Khwani". This production was released in 1980. His poetic talent gained international reach as his work was translated into English, Russian, Chinese and Hindi. He remains a significant figure whose influence crossed national borders.

Personal life

Qateel Shifai began writing his autobiography, "Ghungroo Toot Gaye", in 1988. He worked on this manuscript with the help of his pupil, Naeem Chishti. The book was published posthumously in 2006 by his son, Naveed Qateel. This memoir provides insights into the lives of personalities such as Noor Jehan and Sahir Ludhianvi.

He passed away on 11 July 2001 in Lahore. His legacy is preserved through local landmarks. A street in Lahore bears his name, and a sector in Haripur is called Mohallah Qateel Shifai.

Awards and recognition

The Government of Pakistan honored him with the Pride of Performance Award in 1994. He received several Nigar Awards, specifically in 1958, 1965 and 1979. In 1999, he was granted the Special Millennium Nigar Award for his lifetime contributions to the film industry. He also won a Nigar Award for his work on the film "Naila" in 1965.

His accolades include the Adamjee Literary Award from 1964 and the Amir Khusro Award in India. In 1998, he earned the Best Poet Award at the 9th PTV Awards. Other honors include the Naqoosh Award and the Abbasin Arts Council Award.