Ahmed Wasi
Encyclopedia
Ahmed Wasi is not an anonymous name in the field of Urdu literature and Hindi film music. He has been associated with the Hindi film music in two ways. One is that he is himself a lyricist and second that being a radio announcer he was always in touch with the film songs.
on 8 October 1942. After his graduation from Lucknow
university he pursued few short term courses simultaneously started his studies in law.
. With the proficiency in Urdu
literature and his keen interest in Hindi
music he was soon ruling the airwaves as an announcer making a position for himself amidst legends like Ameen Sayani
and Gopal Sharma.
s and ghazal
s in various Urdu
magazines and was soon spotted for his talent by Murli Manohar Swaroop. Then began a parallel career for Ahmed Wasi, which was perhaps his ambition. Many of the LPs released then by HMV
had his ghazals in the voices of many stalwarts.
His ghazal "shaakh se toot ke girne ki sazaa do mujhko - ek patta hi to hooN kyon Na hawa do mujhko" made waves overnight and turned Raj Kumar Rizvi into a new ghazal phenomena.
was directing a movie "Pran Jaye par vachan Na Jaye". Music director O.P. Nayyar contacted him for writing a cabaret song for the movie. The song penned was "Aa Ke Dard Jawaan hai", rendered in the most erotic voice by Asha Bhosle
.
It was in 1979 that he worked with O. P. Nayyar
for "Heera moti" starring Shatrugan Sinha, Reena Roy, and Danny. This phase of his career was much rewarding with songs like "shaam Rangeen huee hai" from the film "Qanoon Aur Mujrim" and " Mere Sharik e Safar" for the film "Vali E Azam".
It was during this phase of his life that his collection of poems in Urdu
"Behta Paani " was awarded by UP state Urdu
academy in 1983.
However, with the falling quality of the film and ghazal music Ahmed Wasi adopted exile for himself catering to few requirements and concentrating on his career as Radio Announcer and writing poetry.
Then came his second collection of poems "Baadalon ke shaher"(1996) which was in Hindi
and was equally well received by the patrons of poetry.
Later, during a program he happened to meet Music Director Khayyam
who recognized the poetic genius of Ahmed Wasi and offered him a song in "Ek hi Manzil". This combination has worked to date on many projects and one such success story was "Asha Aur Khaiyyam".
His ghazal " Dard Thehre to " is one of the earliest ghazals to be composed in the Pop Music getting much better response from the young generation. But he insists the Ghazal has to liked in its pure form by the youths and has therefore conducted workshops on Ghazal for the youth.
His latest collection of poetry entitled "Jugnu Mere Saath Saath" published in 2004 is still in demand among the Urdu
poetry lovers.
Recently he has written script for a short documentary on Naushad called Naushad ki Awaaz which was screened at Ravindra Natya Mandir.( mumbai mirror, Monday, September 4, 2006).
His upcoming works include Yatra
, "Banaras-1918 a Love story", and " Bewda". His songs for the film Yatra has got him great reviews from most of the media which can be appended from the net.
His work in the latest offering Zah e Naseeb by Anita Singhvi takes the listeners in to the world of real Urdu poetry of charm & spell bounding. Moreover the writing resembles the classical form of Urdu poetry that was missing for a long time from the Ghazal albums available.
After His Radio service Ahmed Wasi was offered different profiles in different TV Programmes. He has equally faired in this medium by writing the title track for serials like Jab Apne Hue Paraye & Na-khuda. He has also hosted an episode of Doordarshan production highlighting the importance of Urdu in today's world. Also he has been a Judge in the ETV Urdu's hunt for budding poetic talent.
He has also written some ghazals for the serial bikhri aas nikhri preet aired on Doordarshan every Sunday
"Aaj kal ki shouhratein Nadiyon ka toofan ho gayi,
Jaise hi pani ghata nadiyan bhi veeran ho gayi."
Or when he says
"mere Jaise Lakhon shayar nazmein ghazlein kehte hain,
Lekin meer awr ghalib ban kar kitne zinda rehte hain"
He rightly describes the greatness of the legends and the efforts that are being put by each of the poets of the day. This is also well described when he says:-
" kabhi sheron mein ae ahmed wasi rang e meer aa jaye,
Hum aisa chahte to hain magar aisa nahin hota."
Besides the morals of life are also not left away from his poetry. He writes about the good human being by highlighting the biggest quality of a good human being.
"Mila leta hai maila haath badhkar koi bhi lekin
Milata hai nazar wohi jo dil maila nahin hota."
2. Ahmed Wasi's Song Shaam Rangeen Huwi Hai from the film Qanoon Aur Mujrim never made it to the Binaca Geet Mala
3. Ahmed wasi's song "aa ke dard jawan hai" was banned from All India Radio for 20 years.
2. www.smashits.com/artist/10615/songs/ahmed-wasi.html
3. http://www.hamaraforums.com/index.php?s=99f39ef7eab37e639f25b5c44325a96c&showtopic=27228&st=15&p=289732&#entry289732
Early years
Ahmed Wasi was born in SitapurSitapur
Sitapur formerly spelled as Citapore is a town and a municipal board in Sitapur district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is in the Lucknow Division of Uttar Pradesh...
on 8 October 1942. After his graduation from Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
university he pursued few short term courses simultaneously started his studies in law.
Entry in the limelight
It was in 1963 that he happened to join the Vividh Bharti service of All India RadioAll India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
. With the proficiency in Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
literature and his keen interest in Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
music he was soon ruling the airwaves as an announcer making a position for himself amidst legends like Ameen Sayani
Ameen Sayani
Ameen Sayani is a popular radio announcer from India. He achieved fame and popularity all across South Asia when he presented his Binaca Geetmala program of hits over the airwaves of Radio Ceylon. He is one of the most imitated announcers even today....
and Gopal Sharma.
Entry into the musical world
Meanwhile he continued to write nazmNazm
Urdu Nazm is a major part of the Urdu poetry, that is normally written in rhymed verse and also in modern prose style poems. Nazm has many different forms as,* Doha * Geet * Hamd * Hazal * Hijv...
s and ghazal
Ghazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
s in various Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
magazines and was soon spotted for his talent by Murli Manohar Swaroop. Then began a parallel career for Ahmed Wasi, which was perhaps his ambition. Many of the LPs released then by HMV
HMV
His Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
had his ghazals in the voices of many stalwarts.
His ghazal "shaakh se toot ke girne ki sazaa do mujhko - ek patta hi to hooN kyon Na hawa do mujhko" made waves overnight and turned Raj Kumar Rizvi into a new ghazal phenomena.
Bollywood and beyond
Then came 1973, Ali RazaS. Ali Raza
S. Ali Raza was an Indian film screenwriter and director associated with writing the script for hit films such as Aan, Andaz, Mother India, Reshma Aur Shera, Raja Jani and Dus Numbri....
was directing a movie "Pran Jaye par vachan Na Jaye". Music director O.P. Nayyar contacted him for writing a cabaret song for the movie. The song penned was "Aa Ke Dard Jawaan hai", rendered in the most erotic voice by Asha Bhosle
Asha Bhosle
Asha Bhosle is an Indian singer. She is one of the best-known and most highly-regarded Hindi playback singers in India, although she has a wider repertoire. Bhosle's career started in 1943 and has spanned over six decades. She has done playback singing for over a thousand Bollywood movies...
.
It was in 1979 that he worked with O. P. Nayyar
O. P. Nayyar
Omkar Prasad Nayyar was an Indian film music director and composer born in Lahore, India, now in modern day Pakistan. He was particularly acclaimed for his peppy numbers.-Career:...
for "Heera moti" starring Shatrugan Sinha, Reena Roy, and Danny. This phase of his career was much rewarding with songs like "shaam Rangeen huee hai" from the film "Qanoon Aur Mujrim" and " Mere Sharik e Safar" for the film "Vali E Azam".
It was during this phase of his life that his collection of poems in Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
"Behta Paani " was awarded by UP state Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
academy in 1983.
However, with the falling quality of the film and ghazal music Ahmed Wasi adopted exile for himself catering to few requirements and concentrating on his career as Radio Announcer and writing poetry.
Then came his second collection of poems "Baadalon ke shaher"(1996) which was in Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
and was equally well received by the patrons of poetry.
Later, during a program he happened to meet Music Director Khayyam
Mohammed Zahur Khayyam
Mohammed Zahur "Khayyam" Hashmi, better known as Khayyam, is an Indian music composer whose career spanned four decades .He has won three Filmfare Awards for Best Music in 1977 for Kabhi Kabhie and 1982 for Umrao Jaan, and a lifetime achievement award in 2010...
who recognized the poetic genius of Ahmed Wasi and offered him a song in "Ek hi Manzil". This combination has worked to date on many projects and one such success story was "Asha Aur Khaiyyam".
His ghazal " Dard Thehre to " is one of the earliest ghazals to be composed in the Pop Music getting much better response from the young generation. But he insists the Ghazal has to liked in its pure form by the youths and has therefore conducted workshops on Ghazal for the youth.
His latest collection of poetry entitled "Jugnu Mere Saath Saath" published in 2004 is still in demand among the Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
poetry lovers.
Recently he has written script for a short documentary on Naushad called Naushad ki Awaaz which was screened at Ravindra Natya Mandir.( mumbai mirror, Monday, September 4, 2006).
His upcoming works include Yatra
Yatra (film)
Yatra is a Hindi movie directed by Gautam Ghose, the movie featured Rekha, Nana Patekar and Deepti Naval.-Plot:...
, "Banaras-1918 a Love story", and " Bewda". His songs for the film Yatra has got him great reviews from most of the media which can be appended from the net.
His work in the latest offering Zah e Naseeb by Anita Singhvi takes the listeners in to the world of real Urdu poetry of charm & spell bounding. Moreover the writing resembles the classical form of Urdu poetry that was missing for a long time from the Ghazal albums available.
Television an Addition
During his radio career he has been associated with a variety of progammes highlighting his versatility. He was among the earliest compares for "Hello Farmaish" a dial in request show on vividh bharati.After His Radio service Ahmed Wasi was offered different profiles in different TV Programmes. He has equally faired in this medium by writing the title track for serials like Jab Apne Hue Paraye & Na-khuda. He has also hosted an episode of Doordarshan production highlighting the importance of Urdu in today's world. Also he has been a Judge in the ETV Urdu's hunt for budding poetic talent.
He has also written some ghazals for the serial bikhri aas nikhri preet aired on Doordarshan every Sunday
His Work & Style
Being associated with radio helped him understand the requirement of the audience & that is the reason Ahmed Wasi's poetry has been always the expression of the day. The selection of his words & subjects are always related to the common man. He has best described today's popularity is his words by saying:-"Aaj kal ki shouhratein Nadiyon ka toofan ho gayi,
Jaise hi pani ghata nadiyan bhi veeran ho gayi."
Or when he says
"mere Jaise Lakhon shayar nazmein ghazlein kehte hain,
Lekin meer awr ghalib ban kar kitne zinda rehte hain"
He rightly describes the greatness of the legends and the efforts that are being put by each of the poets of the day. This is also well described when he says:-
" kabhi sheron mein ae ahmed wasi rang e meer aa jaye,
Hum aisa chahte to hain magar aisa nahin hota."
Besides the morals of life are also not left away from his poetry. He writes about the good human being by highlighting the biggest quality of a good human being.
"Mila leta hai maila haath badhkar koi bhi lekin
Milata hai nazar wohi jo dil maila nahin hota."
Surprisingly
1. Ahmed wasi & Jagjit Singh Have known each other for 30 years but jagjit never sang any of his Ghazals.2. Ahmed Wasi's Song Shaam Rangeen Huwi Hai from the film Qanoon Aur Mujrim never made it to the Binaca Geet Mala
3. Ahmed wasi's song "aa ke dard jawan hai" was banned from All India Radio for 20 years.
Published books
- Behta Paani (Urdu) 1983
- Baadalon ke shehar (Hindi) 1996
- Jugnu Mere Saath Saath (Urdu) 2004
- Titliyaan (Urdu) 2007 Collection of poems for children
- kavita ahmed wasin chya"- poems translated into marathi
External links
1. songs.smashits.com/ahmed_wasi.html2. www.smashits.com/artist/10615/songs/ahmed-wasi.html
3. http://www.hamaraforums.com/index.php?s=99f39ef7eab37e639f25b5c44325a96c&showtopic=27228&st=15&p=289732&#entry289732