Raja Mehdi Ali Khan; a Famous Urdu Poet

Raja Mehdi Ali Khan(1928-1966) was an Indian poet, writer and lyricist.

Raja Mehdi Ali Khan was born in Karimabad in undivided India. His early tutoring was under his mother Hebay Saheba soon after he had lost his father. Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal has acknowledged Hebay Saheba as a leading Urdu poet. S. Mukherji the partner in Filmistan Studios gave Raja Mehdi the poet a chance to write lyrics in his film Do Bhai (1946). Songs like Mera Sunder Sapna and Yaad Karoge from this film became instant hits. In 1947, in spite of communal riots, Raja Mehdi and his wife Tahira decided to stay in India rather than migrating to the newly formed Pakistan. In 1948 his patriotism manifested in his songs Watan ki raah mein and Todi todi bachay from the film Shaheed starring Dilip Kumar and Kamini Kaushal.

Raja Mehdi worked with both established and new music composers. Madhosh (1950) was music composer, Madan Mohan's debut film with Raja Mehdi. He had been associated with music composers like Iqbal Qureshi, Babul, S. Mohinder, Chic Chocolate and Rono Mukerjhi to name some. He has written some wonderful songs with C. Ramchandra (Mere piya gaye Rangoon) and O. P. Nayyar (Main Pyar Ka Rahi Hoon). However, he formed an immortal team with Madan Mohan.

Anpadh, Mera Saaya, Who Kaun Thi, Neela Akash, Dulhan Ek Raat Ki and Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah were some outstanding films where this duo worked together. Raja Mehdi Ali Khan 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? was one amongst the top ten all time favorites in film history to be 'retired' from Antakshari on Zee TV. He died on 29 July 1966.