Akhtar ul Iman

Akhtar ul Iman (Urdu: اختر الایمان ‎)
Born	Akhtar 12 November 1915 Quila, Dist. Garhwal, Uttarakhand
Died	9 March 1996 Mumbai
Cause of death	Heart failure
Resting place	Bandra Qabristan, Mumbai Bandra East
Residence	Mumbai
Nationality	Indian
Education	Master of Arts in Urdu Literature
Alma mater	Delhi University, 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
Home town	Najibabad,Bijnore
Religion	Islam
Spouse(s)	Sultana Iman
Children	One son and three daughters: Ramish Iman, Shehla Khan, Asma Husain, and Rakhshinda Khan
Relatives	Sons-in law: Amjad Khan, Fahim Khan, Husain Ehtisham
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, 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]

Career

He preferred nazm over more popular ghazal as a mean of poetic expression. Akhtar ul Iman's language is "coarse and unpoetic". He uses "coarse" and mundane poetic expressions to make his message effective and realistic.^[5]

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.^[6]

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 seven collections:

• Tareek Sayyara (1943)
• Gardyab (1946)
• Aabjoo (1959)
• Yaden (1961)
• Bint-e-Lamhaat (1969)
• Naya Ahang (1977)
• Sar-o-Samaan (1983)

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). His first landmark movie was Kanoon, which became a big hit despite the fact that it had no songs or comedy sequences. This achievement remains unparalleled in Hindi cinema. 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)
• Iqbal Samman

and Numerous other literary awards.

• Filmfare Award
  • 1963: Best Dialogue: Dharmputra^[7]
  • 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

1. Encyclopaedia of Indian literature vol. 1 By various pages 120–121
2. Akhtar ul-Iman An anthology of modern Urdu poetry, by Rafey Habib. Publisher: Modern Language Association (MLA), 2003. ISBN 0-87352-797-6. p. 109.
3. Sahitya Akademi Award – Urdu Sahitya Akademi Award Official listings.
4. Alumni Zakir Husain College Official website.
5. Modern Indian Literature: An Anthology, by K. M. George, various, Sahitya Akademi
6. Encyclopaedia of Indian literature vol. 1
7. Awards IMDB

External links

• Akhtar ul Iman at the Internet Movie Database
• Verses of Akhtarul Iman
• http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00urduhindilinks/baidarbakht/mod06akhtar.pdf
• http://oldpoetry.com/oauthor/show/Akhtar-Ul-Iman
• http://urdulife.com/mushaira/poet.cgi?ara_akhtar_ul_iman (poetry recitation in his own voice)
• http://www.chakpak.com/celebrity/akhtar-ul-iman/filmography/9950
• http://www.hindimovie.com/people/writers/Akhtar-ul-iman/filmography
• http://movies.obuzz.com/celebrities/akhtaruliman/
• http://www.geocities.com/kavitayan/akhtar.html (Archived 2009-10-24) (English translation of four poems)
• http://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
• Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology By K. M. George, Sahitya Akademi
• http://www.urduzoom.com/categories.php?catid=31