Riaz-Ur-Rehman Saghar ( Punjabi, , born 1 December 1941,

Bathinda Bathinda is a city and municipal corporation in Punjab, India. The city is the administrative headquarters of Bathinda district. It is located in northwestern India in the Malwa Region, west of the capital city of Chandigarh and is the fifth ...

Punjab, British India The Punjab Province, officially the Province of the Punjab, was a province of British India, with its capital in Lahore and summer capitals in Murree and Simla. At its greatest extent, it stretched from the Khyber Pass to Delhi; and from the ...

; died 1 June 2013, at

Lahore Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

) was a

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator (thought, thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral t ...

and a

film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

song A song is a musical composition performed by the human voice. The voice often carries the melody (a series of distinct and fixed pitches) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs have a structure, such as the common ABA form, and are usu ...

lyricist A lyricist is a writer who writes lyrics (the spoken words), as opposed to a composer, who writes the song's music which may include but not limited to the melody, harmony, arrangement and accompaniment. Royalties A lyricist's income derives ...

active in

Pakistani cinema The film industry of Pakistan, consisting of motion pictures, has had a large effect on culture of Pakistan, Pakistani society and culture since the nation's independence. Pakistani cinema is made up of various sub-industries, including ...

. He had been awarded numerous awards in recognition of his services to the

Pakistani film industry The film industry of Pakistan, consisting of motion pictures, has had a large effect on Pakistani society and culture since the nation's independence. Pakistani cinema is made up of various sub-industries, including Lollywood, which mak ...

. He is credited with having written over 25000 songs in his lifetime, including many for noted Pakistani singers such as

Hadiqa Kiani Hadiqa Kiani (Urdu, ; born 11 August 1972) is a Pakistani singer, songwriter, guitarist, composer, actress, and philanthropist. She has received numerous local and international awards and has also performed at the Royal Albert Hall and The Ke ...

("Dupatta Mera Malmal Da" �وپٹا میرا ململ دا "Yaad Sajan Di Ayi" �اد سجن دی آوے and a duet song with

Asha Bhosle Asha Bhosle (; ; born 8 September 1933) is an Indian playback singer, entrepreneur, actress and television personality who predominantly works in Indian cinema. Known for her versatility, she has been described in the media as one of the ...

and Adnan Sami Khan ("Kabhi to Nazar Milao" �بھی تو نظر ملاؤ. Saghar also wrote prose and film dialogue in some of the films.

Early life

Riaz-ur-Rehman Saghar was born on 1 December 1941 in

to Maulvi Muhammad Azeem and Sadiqan Bibi. In 1947, his family emigrated to Pakistan as refugees following the

partition of India The partition of India in 1947 was the division of British India into two independent dominion states, the Dominion of India, Union of India and Dominion of Pakistan. The Union of India is today the Republic of India, and the Dominion of Paki ...

. During the journey, Saghar's father was murdered by a Sikh extremist, and his infant brother died of starvation. In Walton Cantonment and later

Multan Multan is the List of cities in Punjab, Pakistan by population, fifth-most populous city in the Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab province of Pakistan. Located along the eastern bank of the Chenab River, it is the List of cities in Pakistan by populatio ...

, where Saghar and his mother settled, they made their living making and selling paper bags in the marketplace. Saghar enrolled in Millat High School where he discovered his love of poetry. He later entered Emerson College Multan for Intermediate Studies, where his poetry readings attracted large crowds. After several warnings, he was expelled from Emerson, after which he traveled to

to begin his career. He finished his schooling in Multan and then moved to Lahore in 1957.

Career

In journalism

In Lahore, Saghar found a job at ''Lail o Nahar'', an Urdu-language weekly magazine, where he worked for a year but soon realized it was not his place of interest. He moved on to ''Nawa-i-Waqt'' daily newspaper and while there, he did his Intermediate and bachelor's degrees in 'Punjabi Fazil'. He worked as a culture and film editor at '' Nawa-i-Waqt'' (newspaper) and the weekly 'Family' magazine till 1996.

As a newspaper columnist

Saghar was the first columnist to write on national political situations in the form of a ballad. His first column was published in 1996 by the title of "Arz Kia Hai" (Urdu عرض کیا ہے), covering political, social and cultural Issues. His last column was published in ''Nawa-i-Waqt'' on 24 March 2013 by the title of "Subah ka sitara chup gya ha" (صبح کا ستارہ چُھپ گیا ہے) .

Career in the film industry

As a songwriter

While working as a journalist, Saghar's love for poetry remained strong. In 1958, he wrote his first song for a film that was never released. His first released song was in the film ''Alia'', but his first real success came with the song "Mere dil kay sanam khane mei ek tasveer aisi hai" from the film ''Shareek e Hayat''. He wrote film song lyrics for a Punjabi movie "Ishq Khuuda"(2013) which was released after his death. Saghar worked as a journalist but his passion for poetry drove him to the film world as well. He wrote more than 2000 songs during his professional career.

Film dialogue and script writer

Saghar worked as a dialogue and story writer for about 75 films, including ''Shama'' (1974), ''Naukar'' (1975), ''Susraal'' (1977), Shabana (1976), ''Nazrana'' (1978), ''Aurat aik paheli'', ''

Awaz Awaz ( ) was a Pakistani pop band that formed in Islamabad in 1992. The group was formed by Haroon Rashid, lead vocalist, who was soon joined by keyboardist Faakhir Mehmood and lead guitarist Asad Ahmed. Awaz were one of the pioneer band ...

'' (1978), ''Bharosa''(1977) ''Tarana'' and Moor (film) (2015)

As a film and TV songwriter

Saghar has written over 2,000 songs for many singers and music directors for Pakistani films, radio and TV. Some of his popular songs were: *''Chalo Kahin Dur Yeh Samaj Chorr Dein'' Sung by Mala and

Mehdi Hassan Mehdi Hassan Khan (; 18 July 1927 – 13 June 2012), known as Mehdi Hassan, was a Pakistani ghazal singer and playback singer of great renown. Widely considered one of the greatest and most influential figures in the history of ghazal singing, ...

, music by A. Hameed, film ''Samaj'' (1974) *''Ankhein Ghazal Hain Aapki Aur Hount Hain Gulab'' Sung by

Asad Amanat Ali Khan Asad Amanat Ali Khan (; ; 25 September 1955 – 8 April 2007) was a Pakistani classical vocalist and ''ghazal'' singer belonging to the Patiala Gharana tradition of music. In a career spanning 32 years, Khan sang over 1,000 songs for Pakista ...

, music by M. Ashraf, film ''Saheli'' (1978) *''Dekha Jo Chehra Tera Mausam Bhi Pyara Laga'' Sung by Arshad Mehmood (singer), music by

Amjad Bobby Amjad Bobby ( Punjabi, ; 1942 15 April 2005) was an acclaimed Pakistani music composer and director. Early life and career He was born in Amritsar, British India in 1942. His father wanted him to be a clerk but he preferred to become a film m ...

, film Ghunghat (1996 film) *''Mujh Ko Bhi Koi Lift Karadey'' Sung by Adnan Sami Khan *''Dupatta Mera Malmal Da'' Sung by

, lyrics by Riaz ur Rehman Saghar (1998) *''Kal Shab Dekha Mein Nay Chaand Jharoke Mein'' Sung by Waris Baig, music by

Sajjad Ali Sajjad Ali (born 1966) is a Pakistani semi-classical, pop and rock singer, poet, actor, film director as well as a film producer from Karachi, Pakistan.Mujhe Chand Chahiye (2000) *''O' Vela Yaad Kar'' Sung by

Fariha Pervez Fariha Pervez () is a Pakistani pop singer-songwriter, and a music producer. She is specially known for the rendition of various popular and famous ghazals (a form of romantic poem). She started her career anchoring and acting from a very youn ...

, music by ''M. Arshad'' (2001) *''Yaad Sajan Di Aaii'' Sung by

, lyrics by Riaz ur Rehman Saghar (2002)

Publications

; Song books * ''Main Nay Jo Geet Likhay'' ; Prose * ''Woh Bhi Kia Din Thay'' (autobiography) * ''Camera, Qalam aur Dunya'' (Travelogue of 7 Countries)'Kabhi Tau Nazar Milao' fame lyricist Riaz ur Rehman Saghar dies
Geo News website, 2 June 2013, Retrieved 13 May 2018 * ''Lahore Ta Bombay Brasta Delhi'' (Travelogue of India) * ''Sarkari Mehmaan Khaana'' (Book on events inside Jail) ; Poetry * ''Chand Jharoke Mein'' * ''Piare Piare Geet Hamare'' * ''Arz Kia Hai, Sur Sitarey'' * ''Aangan Aangan Taray'' ( Poems in this book were presented on PTV for children. All poems started from Urdu alphabets. Federal Ministry of Education also instructed all syllabus book boards to utilize this book). * ''Chalo Cheen Chalain '' (travelogue to China: the first ballad travelogue in Urdu) * ''Sooraj Kab Nikle Ga'' (incomplete autobiography in ballad form) * ''Pakistan pe jaan qurban'' ( a national song recited by him on

Pakistan Television Pakistan Television Corporation (; reporting name: PTV); also known as ''Pakistan Television'', is the Pakistani state-owned broadcasting, broadcaster founded by the Government of Pakistan, operating under the Ministry of Information & Broadc ...

)

Awards and recognition

Saghar has received many awards in recognition of his services to the film industry of Pakistan. Prominent ones are: * National Film Award * PTV Award * Cultural Graduate Award *

Nigar Award The Nigar Awards () were presented in an annual award show to recognize outstanding achievement in Pakistani cinema, after having been revived in 2017 following a 15-year absence. The honors are awarded by Nigar Magazine founded in 1948. The ...

in 1995 for Best Film Song Lyricist in the film Sargam (1995 film) * Bolan Award

Death and legacy

After being ill for a few months, Riaz ur Rehman Saghar lost his battle to cancer in Jinnah Hospital,

on 1 June 2013 and was laid to rest in Kareem Block, Iqbal Town, Lahore graveyard on 2 June 2013.Obituary of Riaz ur Rehman Saghar on The Nation (newspaper)
Published 6 June 2013, Retrieved 13 May 2018 "He could write a poem in 10 to 15 minutes no matter how noisy it was." said a Pakistani journalist Sajid Yazdani who had associated with him for 10 to 15 years. Among his survivors were a wife and a daughter. Veteran Pakistani musician

Arshad Mehmood (composer) Arshad Mehmood is a Pakistani actor, music composer, and a singer. Early life and career He had started composing music for Pakistan Television Corporation back in 1972. EMI Pakistan period He later was the driving force behind EMI Pakistan. ...

said at his death that he was one of the poets who understood music as much as he understood poetry.

Books

* Saghar, Riaz-ur-Rehman ''Woh bhi kia din thay'' (Autobiography)

References

External links

Filmography of Riaz ur Rehman Saghar on IMDb website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saghar, Riaz ur Rehman 1941 births 2013 deaths Pakistani poets Urdu-language poets from Pakistan Punjabi-language poets Pakistani lyricists Pakistani male songwriters Pakistani songwriters Nigar Award winners PTV Award winners People from Bathinda People from Punjab Province (British India)