Remembering Naqsh Lyallpuri: “He Was The Unsung Genius”, Says Sanjay Leela Bhansali

(AS TOLD TO SUBHASH K JHA)

“Among all the great poets who wrote during the golden era of  film music when Rafi Saab, Kishore Kumar , Manna Dey, Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar sang , Naqsh Lyallpuriwas the least recognized poetic genius. In fact it’s only now after his death that I got to know that he had composed some of my favourite Ghazals like Kabhi kissiko muqammaljahaan nahin milta sung by Asha Bhosle in Ahista Ahista, Main toh har modd par tujhkodhund na sakaa from  Chetna sung  by Mukesh, Ahl-e-dil yun hi nibha lete hain sung byLata Mangeshkar in Dard, Tumhe dekhti hoon toh lagta hai aise sung by LataMangeshkar in Tumhare Liye and my all-time favourite Rasm-e-ulfat  sung by LataMangeshkar in Dil Ki Raahen. In fact I rank Rasm-e-ulfat as one of the greatest Ghazalsof all times.  Naqshji’s words were taken to sublime heights by Lataji’s singing.It is time we celebrated the artistry of this amazing wordsmith .We should have done it while he was still alive. But such artistes never die.And it’s never too late to acknowledge the genius of a poet so skilled and accomplished. He could express the deepest thoughts in the most clear concise and poetic words. I’d have loved to work with him.”