Akhtar ul Iman

Akhtar ul Iman اختر الایمان
Born	12 November 1915 Qila Patthargarh, Najibabad, Bijnor district
Died	9 March 1996(1996-03-09) (aged 80) Mumbai
Resting place	Bandra Qabristan, Mumbai
Nationality	Indian
Education	Master of Arts in Urdu Literature[citation needed]
Alma mater	Zakir Husain Delhi College Aligarh Muslim University
Occupation	poet, screenwriter
Employer	Freelance and B.R. Films assigned cine writer (1960–1980)
Known for	Urdu Nazm, poet screenwriter and playwright
Spouse(s)	Sultana Iman
Children	One son and three daughters
Signature

Akhtar ul Iman (1915–1996) was a noted Urdu poet and screenwriter in Hindi cinema, who had a major influence on modern Urdu nazm.^[1][2]

He won the Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue in 1963 for Dharmputra and 1966 for Waqt. He was awarded the 1962 Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu, for his Poetry Collection, Yadein (Memories), by Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters.^[3]

Early life and education[]

Born in Qila Patthargarh, Najibabad, in the Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh in 1915.

He gained his initial education at Bijnor, where he came in contact with poet and scholar Khurshid ul Islam – who taught at Aligarh Muslim University – and developed a long association with Ralph Russell. He graduated from the (Zakir Husain College) in Delhi ^[4] and completed his Masters in Urdu from Aligarh Muslim University. ^[5]

Career[]

He preferred nazm over more popular ghazal as a mean of poetic expression. Akhtar ul Iman's language is "coarse and unpoetic".^{[This quote needs a citation]} He uses "coarse" and mundane poetic expressions to make his message effective and realistic.^[6]

He left behind a substantial legacy for new generation of poets to follow which explores new trends and themes in modern Urdu poetry giving a new direction to the modern and contemporary Urdu nazm with emphasis on philosophical humanism.^[7]

Works[]

Books[]

• Iss Aabad Kharabe Mein (Urdu)-published by Urdu Academy, Delhi, India. Autobiography of a famous Urdu writer of India.

Poetry[]

He has published eight collections:

• Girdaab (1943)
• Aabjoo (1944-1945)
• Tareek Sayyara (1946–47)
• Yaden (1961)
• Bint-e-Lamhaat (1969)
• Naya Ahang (1977)
• Sar-o-Samaan (1982)
• Zameen Zameen (1983-1990)

Play

• Sabrang (1948): a one-verse play.

Translation and compilation by others[]

• Zamistan Sard Mehrika (Urdu)- Last Poetic Collection of an unforgettable Urdu poet. Compiled and edited by Sultana Iman and Bedar Bakht.
• Query of the Road – Selected Poems of Akhtar-ul-Iman with Extensive Commentary by Baidar Bakht

Indian cinema[]

His contribution to Hindi cinema is significant, keeping in mind the number of landmark and hit movies he has contributed as a script writer (dialogue, story and screenplay).^{[citation needed]} His first landmark movie was Kanoon, which became a big hit despite the fact that it had no songs or comedy sequences.^{[citation needed]} This achievement remains unparalleled in Hindi cinema.^{[citation needed]} Other important movies to which he contributed as a script writer were Dharmputra (1961) – for which he received a filmfare award – Gumrah, Waqt, Patther ke Sanam, and Daagh.

The one movie which has his lyrics is Bikhare Moti.

Awards[]

Literary awards

• 1962: Sahitya Akademi Award – Urdu: Yadein (Poetry)

and Numerous other literary awards.

• Filmfare Award
  • 1963: Best Dialogue: Dharmputra^[8]
  • 1966: Best Dialogue: Waqt

Filmography[]

• Vijay (1988) – writer
• Chor Police (1983) – writer
• Lahu Pukarega (1980) – director
• Do Musafir (1978) – writer
• Chandi Sona (1977) – writer
• Zameer (1975) – writer
• 36 Ghante (1974) – writer
• Roti (1974) – writer
• Naya Nasha (1973) – writer
• Bada Kabutar (1973) – writer
• Daag (1973) – writer
• Dhund (1973) – writer
• Joshila (1973) – writer
• Kunwara Badan (1973) – writer
• Dastaan (1972) – writer
• Joroo Ka Ghulam (1972) – writer
• Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969) – writer
• Chirag (1969) – writer
• Ittefaq (1969) – writer
• Aadmi (1968) – writer
• Hamraaz (1967) – writer
• Patthar Ke Sanam (1967) – writer
• Gaban (1966) – writer
• Mera Saaya (1966) – writer
• Phool Aur Patthar (1966) – writer
• Bhoot Bungla (1965) – writer
• Waqt (1965) – writer
• Shabnam (1964) – writer
• Yaadein (1964) – writer
• Aaj Aur Kal (1963) – writer
• Akeli Mat Jaiyo (1963) – writer
• Gumrah (1963) – writer
• Neeli Aankhen (1962) – writer
• Dharmputra (1961) – writer
• Flat No. 9 (1961) – writer
• Barood (1960) – writer
• Kalpana (1960) – writer
• Kanoon (1960) – writer
• Nirdosh (1950) – writer
• Actress (1948) – writer
• Jharna (1948) – writer

Further reading[]

• Akhtar Ul Iman by Ghulam Rizvi 'gardish'. Sahitya Akademi Publications. ISBN 81-260-0920-9.

References[]

External links[]

• Akhtar ul Iman at IMDb
• Verses of Akhtarul Iman
• http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00urduhindilinks/baidarbakht/mod06akhtar.pdf
• Nazm of Akhtarul Iman
• http://oldpoetry.com/oauthor/show/Akhtar-Ul-Iman
• http://urdulife.com/mushaira/poet.cgi?ara_akhtar_ul_iman (poetry recitation in his own voice)
• https://archive.is/20130118214443/http://www.chakpak.com/celebrity/akhtar-ul-iman/filmography/9950
• http://www.hindimovie.com/people/writers/Akhtar-ul-iman/filmography
• https://web.archive.org/web/20160314063627/http://movies.obuzz.com/celebrities/akhtaruliman
• http://www.geocities.com/kavitayan/akhtar.html (Archived 2009-10-24) (English translation of four poems)
• https://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC&pg=PA120&lpg=PA120&dq=akhtar+ul+iman&source=web&ots=mUzV1uyQv9&sig=VdLt-QEZp2L_f35rOkLumnvFXVs#PPA120,M1
• [1] Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology By K. M. George, Sahitya Akademi
• https://web.archive.org/web/20110717173430/http://www.urduzoom.com/categories.php?catid=31