Word Famous Pakistani Urdu Poet Qateel Shifai’s 95th birthday was celebrated in different areas of Pakistan with tributes paid to his work by Gehwara-e-Adab, different literacy societies, electronic and radio channels.
Qateel Shifai is a Pakistani Urdu Poet. He was born on December 24, 1919 in Haripur, Hazara Division, British India (now Pakistan). His original name is Aurangzeb Khan. He died on July 11, 2001 at age 81 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. His Pen name is Qateel Shifai and he is awarded of “Pride of Performance” in 1994. He has five children Pervaiz Qateel, Musarat Butt, Tanveer Qateel, Samina Khurshid and Naveed Qateel.
He adopted Qateel Shifai as his pen name in 1938 under which he was known in the world of Urdu poetry. Qateel was his Surname (takhallus) and Shifai was in honour of his Ustaad Hakim Mohammed Shifa whom he considered his mentor.
In 1946, he was called to Lahore by Nazir Ahmed to work as the assistant editor of the monthly Adab-e-Latif a literary magazine published since 1936. His first ghazal was published in the Lahore weekly Star edited by Qamar Jalalabadi.
In January 1947, Qateel was asked to pen the songs of a film by a Lahore based film producer. The first film he penned the lyrics for was “Teri Yaad”. He won numerous awards as a lyricist. Many of his poem collections were published one amongst them being Mutriba, which got him the highest literature award in Pakistan.
To raise the standards of ghazals in films has been Qateel’s primary contribution to Urdu poetry. By using simple words and a larger amount of Hindi Qateel brought Urdu poetry closer to the masses. He established a certain standard to ghazals in films and gave them certain respectability.
Filmography:
- Bade Dilwala (1999) (lyricist)
- Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan (1999) (lyricist)
- Auzaar (1997) (lyricist)
- Tamanna (1996) (as Qatil Shafai)
- Naajayaz (1995) (lyricist) (as Qatil Shafai)
- Naaraz(1994) (as Qatil Shafai)
- Waqt hamara hai (as Qatil Shafai)
- Sir (1993) (lyricist) (as Qateel Shafai)
- Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee (1993) (English: Your Memories Have Returned) (lyricist) (as Qateel Shafai)
- Tahqiqaat (1993) (lyricist) (as Cratil Sipahi)
- Painter Babu (1983) (lyricist)
- Shireen Farhad (1975) (lyricist)
- Naila (1965) (lyricist)
- Intezar (1956) (asst lyricist)
- Gumnaam (1954) (assisted Hakim Ahmad Shuja as junior lyricist)
- Gulnaar (1953) (asst lyricist)
- Teri Yaad (1948) (asst lyricist) – (English: Memories) (International: English title)
