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 ...
ho chukey aaj baam o dr udaas
This ghazal “Udaas Nazrein” by Afzal Shakeel Sandhu beautifully expresses the loneliness of separation and the silence that follows love’s departure. Written in a soft, reflective tone, it paints images of fading evenings, broken dreams, and hearts weighed down by memories. Originally published in the Monthly Political Scene, Lahore (September 2003), this work remains a timeless expression of poetic melancholy.
This touching ghazal by Afzal Shakeel Sandhu,captures the quiet pain of separation and the melancholy that lingers in every moment. The verses flow with the fragrance of loss — from fading evenings to restless nights, each couplet speaks the language of waiting, memory, and sorrow.
See my another ghazal
In Roman Urdu
ho chukey aaj baam o dr udaas
terey bin muntzir nazar udaas
sham ki rangten hn be maani
khoi khoi hui sahar udaas
phool khiltey hn pr chamn bezar
titlion k baal o pr udaas
khwab tootey hn kirchiyan bn kr
zindgi qisa mukhtasir udaas
yun to insaan alm naseeb raha
mn hoon in mn khaas kr udaas
shaam se tk raha hoon rahon ko
kitni masroof reh guzar udaas
kitney gohar shakeel be bs hn
tum b kr lo guzr basr udaas
🌐 English Translation
1. The roofs and doors stand desolate today,
My eyes, awaiting you, are lonely and grey.
2. The colors of evening have lost their meaning,
Even the dawn seems distant and grieving.
3. Flowers still bloom, yet gardens sigh,
Butterfly wings droop — they can’t fly high.
4. Dreams have shattered into crystal tears,
Life itself is a tale of faded years.
5. Man is destined to pain and scars,
But I’m the one especially marred.
6. From dusk till now, the paths I tread,
Busy roads, but my soul feels dead.
7. Many pearls, like Shakeel, are helpless indeed,
You too endure — in sorrow we’re agreed.
Written by: Afzal Shakeel Sandhu