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Rahi Masoom Raza | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1927-09-01)1 September 1927 |
| Died | 15 March 1992(1992-03-15) (aged 64) Bombay,Maharashtra, India |
| Occupation | Novelist,Urdu poet, and film songs lyricist |
| Years active | 1945 – 1992 |
| Notable awards | Won 3Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue |
| Relatives | Parvati Khan (daughter-in-law) |
Rahi Masoom Raza (1 September 1927 – 15 March 1992) was an IndianUrdu andHindi poet, writer and aBollywood lyricist.[1][2]
He won theFilmfare Award for Best Dialogue three times, for his work inMain Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1979),Tawaif (1985) andLamhe (1991). He is best known for writing the screenplay and dialogues for the television seriesMahabharat, which was based on the Sanskrit epic, theMahabharata fromancient India.[1]
Raza was born on 1 September 1927 into a Muslim family in the village of Gangauli, located in theGhazipur district of Uttar Pradesh.[1][3] He was the younger brother of educationistMoonis Raza and scholar Mehdi Raza.
Raza completed his early education inGhazipur district before pursuing higher education atAligarh Muslim University, where his academic focus was centered on Muslim theology. He earned a doctorate in Hindustani Literature and embarked on a literary career. He married Nayyar Jahan who had been previously married. Raza was told by many of his friends to break off ties with her. But he remained firm in his resolve and they were married, which led to a controversy that made Raza quit the Aligarh Muslim University job as a lecturer. Then the married couple decided to move to Bombay where Raza would work in films in 1967.[1][4][2]
Writing under the pseudonym Shahid Akhtar, he contributed novels to the Urdu magazineRumani Duniya from Allahabad. Raza later became a lecturer in Urdu atAligarh Muslim University before relocating to Bombay (now Mumbai).[1][5]
Raza's career in Hindi films began with the romantic dramaMili (1975), directed byHrishikesh Mukherjee. His dialogues in the film were highly praised, marking the beginning of his successful career in the Hindi film industry.
He won his firstFilmfare Award for Best Dialogue forRaj Khosla's dramaMain Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978), which dealt with themes of love, sacrifice, and societal expectations. His dialogues were instrumental in conveying the emotional depth and complexity of the film.
After working for various successful films likeGol Maal (1979),Karz (1980),Judaai (1980) andDisco Dancer (1982), Raza's next prominent venture was the romantic dramaTawaif (1985), directed byB. R. Chopra. Showcasing the life and dilemmas of the life of acourtesan, his dialogues were instrumental in humanizing the characters and conveying the emotional depth of the narrative, contributing significantly to the film's critical acclaim. His work on the film earned him his second Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue.
He gained significant recognition on Hindi television for writing the screenplay and dialogues for the television serialMahabharat, which was based on the ancient Indian epic, theMahabharata.[1][2] The serial became one of the most popular TV shows in India, achieving a peak television rating of approximately 86%.[6]
Raza then collaborated withHoney Irani to write the screenplay and dialogues forYash Chopra's musical romantic dramaLamhe (1991),[1] which was a pioneering film that explored unconventional themes of love across generations. Raza's dialogues, which were pivotal in conveyingLamhe's complex emotions and progressive themes, earned widespread critical acclaim upon the film's release. At the37th Filmfare Awards, the film won a leading 5 awards, including a third Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue for Raza.Lamhe was Raza's final film to release in his lifetime, and over the years, it has been hailed as an all-time classic and the finest film of Chopra, Irani and Raza's careers.
Rahi Masoom Raza died on 15 March 1992 at age 62.[1]After his death, Raza's dialogues were featured in two more ofYash Chopra's productions,Parampara (1992) andAaina (1993).[1]
According to Indian Cinema Heritage Foundation (Cinemaazi.com) website:
"Regarded as nothing less than a national treasure, 'a scholar who strayed into Bollywood', his contributions to literature, poetry and films remains enormous".[1]
His works include:
| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 26th Filmfare Awards | Best Dialogue | Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki | Won | [8] |
| 1986 | 33rd Filmfare Awards | Tawaif | Won | [9] | |
| 1992 | 37th Filmfare Awards | Lamhe | Won | [10] |
