Dareechah-e-Nigaarish

Raja Mehdi Ali Khan (1928 - 1996)
Bio Sketch courtesy of Wikipedia and Bollywood Direct

Raja Mehdi Ali Khan was born in Karam Abad, Tehsil Wazir Abad, District Gujranwala, British India in 1928. His mother, Hebay Sahiba was the sister of the great journalist, orator and poet Moulana Zafar Ali Khan. His father died in his youth and his mother Hebay Saheba helped to educate him in his early years.  Allama Muhammad Iqbal acknowledged Hebay Saheba as a leading Urdu poet.

In the early forties while serving at all India Radio, Delhi, Raja Mehdi Ali Khan got a call from his friend Saadat Hasan Manto the noted Urdu writer who had joined Hindi films. Raja started as a dialogue writer and did a role in Ashok Kumar's movie Aath Din but writing dialogues and acting was not for him. S. Mukherji, the partner in Filmistan Studio, gave Raja Mehdi a chance to write lyrics for his film, Do Bhai.  "Mera Sunder Sapna"  became an instant hit.

^{In 1947, in spite of communal riots, Raja Mehdi and his wife Tahira took the decision of staying in India rather than migrating to the newly formed Pakistan.} 

Raja Mehdi never discriminated when it came to working with established or new music composers.  ‘Madhosh’ (1950) was Madam Mohan's debut film with Raja Mehdi. He had been associated with music composers like Iqbal Qureshi, Rono Mukerjhi and O.P. Nayyar (Main Pyar Ka Rahi Hoon). However, he formed an immortal team with Madan Mohan.  The two worked on films such as Anpadh, Mera Saaya, Who Kaun Thi, Neela Akash, Dulhan Ek Raat Ki.  Mehdi was the first lyricist to introduce Aap in film songs, such as "Aap Ki Nazron" (Anpadh), "Aap kyon roye" (Woh Kaun Thi?), "Aap ne apna banaya" (Dulhan Ek Raat Ki). His song "Lug jaa gale" from the film (Woh Kaun Thi?) has been named among the top ten all-time favorites songs from Indian Cinema. 

In the mid-sixties, Raja Mehdi Ali Khan paired with the next generation sensation Laxmikant Pyarelal in films like ‘Anita’ and ‘Jaal’. This was as far as Raja Mehdi’s career was destined. He breathed his last on July 29, 1996, leaving behind a treasure of songs that are still cherished by all lovers of poetry in film songs.