Sahir Ludhianvi and Filmi Adab: When Cinema Became Literature 1: Introduction In Urdu literature and Indian film poetry, if one poet successfully combined thought, protest, and aesthetics, it was Sahir Ludhianvi. Sahir transformed film poetry from mere entertainment into a voice of social consciousness, human suffering, and resistance against injustice. For him, a film song was also literature—the only difference was that its audience sat in cinema halls instead of literary gatherings. 2: Intellectual Background Sahir was closely associated with the Progressive Writers’ Movement, which is why protest accompanies romance in his poetry. He strongly criticized war, capitalism, religious hypocrisy, and social inequality. This ideological depth is equally visible in his film lyrics, setting him apart from other lyricists of his time. 3: Concept of Filmi Adab Filmi Adab refers to poetry that reaches the masses through cinema while maintaining literary dignity. Sahir refused to ...