Raja Mehdi Ali Khan

Life

Raja Mehdi Ali Khan was born in Karam Abad, Tehsil Wazir Abad, District Gujranwala. He son of the sister of great journalist, orator and poet Moulana Zafar Ali Khan. His father died in his youth and his mother Hebay Saheba helped to educate him in his early years.

Allama Muhammad Iqbal acknowledged Hebay Saheba as a leading Urdu poet. S. Mukherji, the partner in Filmistan Studio, gave Raja Mehdi a chance to write lyrics for his film, Do Bhai. Songs from the film such as "Mera Sunder Sapna" and "Yaad Karoge" became hits.

In 1947, Mehdi and his wife Tahira decided to stay in India instead of migrating to Pakistan. They came to this decision despite the wave of riots plaguing the country. In 1948, his patriotism manifested in his songs, "Watan Ki Raah Mein" and "Todi Todi Bachche", which were used in the film Shaheed.

He worked with music composers including Sachin Dev Burman, Iqbal Qureshi, Babul, S. Mohinder, Chic Chocolate, and Rono Mukerjhi. He wrote songs with C. Ramchandra ("Mere piya gaye Rangoon" is wrongly attributed to him; it was written by Rajinder Krishan), Datta Naik ("Sare Jahan Se Acha Hindustan Hamara") and O. P. Nayyar ("Main Pyar Ka Rahi Hoon").

He partnered with Madan Mohan, including on Madhosh (1950), Madan Mohan's third film. The two worked on films such as Anpadh, Mera Saaya, Who Kaun Thi, Neela Akash, Dulhan Ek Raat Ki, and Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah. Mehdi was the first lyricist to introduce Aap in film songs, such as "Aap Ki Nazron" (Anpadh), "Aap kyon roye" (Woh Kaun Thi?), "Aap ne apna banaya" (Dulhan Ek Raat Ki). His song "Lag ja gale" from the film (Woh Kaun Thi?) has been named among the top ten all-time favorites in film history to be "retired" from Antakshari on Zee TV.

Death

He died on 29 July 1966.

Films and popular songs

1. Mera sundar sapna beet gaya (Do Bhai)

2. Meri yaad me tum na aansoo bahaana (Madhosh)

3. Raat sard sard hai (Jaali Note)

4. Poochho na hume (Mitti Me Sona)

5. Aap yuhin agar hum se milte rahe(Ek Musafir Ek Haseena)

6. Maye pyar ka raahi hoon (Ek Musafir Ek Haseena)

7. Aap ki nazron ne samjha (Anpadh)

8. Hai isi me pyar ki aabroo (Anpadh)

9. Agar mujhse mohabbat hai (Aap Ki Parchhaiyan)

10. Maye nigaahen tere chehre se (Aap Ki Parchhaiyan)

11. Jo hum ne dastaan apni sunaai (Woh Kaun Thi)

12. Lag ja gale ke phir ye (Woh Kaun Thi)

13. Naina barse rimjhim (Woh Kaun Thi)

14. Aakhri geet mohabbat ka (Neela Akaash)

15. Tere paas aa ke mera waqt (Neela Akaash)

16. Naino me badra chhaye (Mera Saaya)

17. Tu jahan jahan chalega (Mera Saaya)

18. Aap ke paheloo me aa kar ro diye (Mera Saaya)

19. Jhumka gira re (Mera Saaya)

20. Sapno me agar mere tum aao (Dulhan Ek Raat Ki)

21. Kayeen din se ji hai bekal (Dulhan Ek Raat Ki)

22. Ek haseen sham ko (Dulhan Ek Raat Ki)

23. Tere Bin sawaan kaise beeta (Jab Yaad Kisi Ki Aati Hai)

24. Aari o shokh kaliyion muskuraa dena (Jab Yaad Kisi Ki Aati Hai)

25. Akela hoon maye humsafar dhoondta hoon (Jaal)