Behzad Lucknavi

Behzad Lucknavi (born Sardar Hasan Khan; 1 January 1900 – 10 October 1974^[1]) was a Pakistani Urdu poet and lyricist. He primarily wrote naats and ghazals and sometimes radio plays for the All India Radio, Delhi and later for Radio Pakistan after emigrating to Pakistan.^[2]

Behzad Lucknavi
Born	Sardar Hasan Khan (1900-01-01)January 1, 1900 Lucknow, India
Died	10 October 1974(1974-10-10) (aged 74) Karachi, Pakistan
Pen name	Behzad Lucknavi
Occupation	Poet, Lyricist
Language	Urdu
Nationality	Pakistani
Genre	Gazal Naʽat Nazm

He started participating in mushairas at age of twelve. Then veteran radio personality Zulfiqar Ali Bukhari introduced him to All India Radio.^[3]

He wrote film song lyrics for seventeen films, including Roti (1942), Taj Mahal (1941) and Dhanwan (1937).^[4]

Biography

He was born as Sardar Hasan Khan on 1 January 1900 in United Province, British India (in modern-day Lucknow, India).^[3] He initially worked in the Indian Railways^[5] but later for the All India Radio at ₹120 per month.^[3] He was later employed by the Radio Pakistan where he used to recite naats as part of congregational prayer. He also wrote a number of radio plays.^[3]

As a ghazal writer, he contributed to the Urdu literature of Pakistan.^[6] An Indian ghazal singer, Begum Akhtar first gained her recognition after she sang her first ghazal Diwana banana hai toh, toh diwana bana de written by Lakhnavi.^[7] He also wrote film song lyrics, including "Mere Liye Woh Gham-e-Intezaar" for the film Anokha Pyar (1948) sung by Lata Mangeshkar.^[8]

Lucknavi's ghazal, Aey Jazba-e-Dil Gar Mein Chahun, Har Cheez Muqabil Aajaye is very popular in Pakistan and has been sung by many singers there.^[9]

Publications

#	Title	Year	Type/Credited as	Ref.
1	Haseen Qatil	1924	novel	[9]
2	Paidaishi Jasoos	1925	Novel
3	Bete Ka Qatil	1926	Novel
4	Mushaf-e-Bahzad	1938	—
5	Behzad Lucknavi Ke Sau Geet	1940	Poetry
6	Charagh-e-Toor[5]	1941	Poetry
7	Kufr-o-Iman	1945	Poetry
8	Sana-e-Habeeb	1954	Poetry
9	Wajd-o-Haal[5]	1955	Poetry
10	Aah Na Tamam	—	Poetry
11	Aah Na Tamam	—	Poetry
12	Aah-e-Natamam	—	Poetry
13	Bahram Ki Wapsi	—	Novel
14	Bustan-e-Bahzad	—	Poetry
15	Kaif-o-Suroor[5]	—	Poetry
16	Mauj-e-Noor	—	Poetry
17	Mauj-e-Tuhoor[5]	—	Poetry
18	Naat-e-Huzoor	—	Poetry
19	Naghma-e-Noor[5]	—	Poetry
20	Naghmat-e-Bahzad Lakhnavi	—	Poetry
21	Pili Chhatri	—	Poetry

Filmography

Key

†	Remarks denote a short description of the work where available.

#	Year	Title	Lyricist	Dialogue	Screenwriter	Ref.
1	1951	Pyar Ki Baten				[4]
2	1951	Ada
3	1950	Khel
4	1950	Pagle
5	1950	Wafa
6	1949	Ladli
7	1949	Nisbat
8	1948	Aag
9	1948	Anokha Pyar[8]
10	1947	Andhon Ki Duniya
11	1947	Jadui Ratan
12	1946	Dhanwan
13	1943	Poonji
14	1942	Zamindar
15	1942	Roti
16	1941	Taj Mahal
17	1931	Dhanwan

Personal life

He spent his last days in difficult circumstances due to personal financial crisis and medical complications. He then submitted a request to the Karachi Municipal Corporation for financial assistance. He was given PKR1,000 for his surgery. The commissioner of Karachi later offered him a government job at primary school as a teacher but he refused the post.^[2]

Death

He died on 10 October 1974 in Karachi, Pakistan.^[5]