Javed Akhtar

Javed Akhtar (Urdu: جاوید اختر; Hindi : जावेद अख़्तर), born January 17, 1945, is an Urdu and Hindi (Hindustani) poet, lyricist and scriptwriter from India. Some of his most successful work was done in the late 1970s and 1980s with Salim Khan as half of the script-writing duo credited as Salim-Javed. Akhtar continues to be prominent in Bollywood and is a sought-after lyricist.

Life and career

Javed Akhtar was born on January 17, 1945 in Gwalior State (now Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh) to Jan Nisar Akhtar, a Bollywood film songwriter and Urdu poet, and Singer Safia Akhtar, a teacher and writer. His lineage can be traced back to seven generations of writers. The highly respected Urdu poet Majaz was his maternal uncle and the works of his grandfather, Muzter Khairabadi, are looked upon as a milestone in Urdu poetry. Akhtar has one sibling; his younger brother is renowned psychoanalyst Salman Akhtar. After his birth, his parents moved to Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and later to Aligarh. Young Javed Akhtar lost his mother at a tender age and his father frequently moved back and forth between Lucknow and Bombay, so he and his brother spent most of their time with relatives. At the age of eight, he was admitted to the sixth class in a well-known school of Lucknow, the Colvin Taluqdars' College. From Lucknow he moved to Aligarh to live with his maternal aunt. He took admission in a well known school of Aligarh, the Minto Circle. The school is part of famous Aligarh Muslim University. He completed his matriculation from Aligarh Muslim University. After completing his matriculation, Akhtar entered and began attending Saifiya College in Bhopal where he earned a B.A.. He was a keen debater in college and won the Rotary Club Prize frequently. He arrived in Mumbai on October 4, 1964. In his early years living in Mumbai, he managed to write the dialogue for a minor film for Rs. 100. Occasionally, he used to work as an assistant.

Javed Akhtar is the father of the film director Farhan Akhtar, the father and son duo have recently worked together in movies such as Dil Chahta Hai, Lakhshya, Rock On!! etc. the latter script was written by Javed. Javed Akhtar has not worked with his old associate Salim Khan, the father of Salman, Arbaaz, and Sohail Khan since their split up.

Javed used to write his scripts in Urdu, which were then written out in Hindi by his assistant. Another assistant would type out a one line summary in English. His association with Salim lasted until 1980. After this Javed wrote some scripts on his own but mostly moved into writing lyrics for films, in which he achieved remarkable success.

Javed Akhtar's songs are rhythmic, reflective on life and very melodic and catchy. Javed has also attempted more serious Urdu poetry aside from writing lyrics for movies. A major set of his works were compiled in Tarkash, which was also rendered into audio in his voice. Singers such as Jagjit Singh and the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan have sung some of his non-movie poetry.

Currently Javed Akhtar is also a judge alongside Anu Malik, Kailash Kher & Sonali Bendre on india's famous singer hunt Indian Idol 4. He is also on the advisory board of Asian Academy Of Film And Television.

Personal life

His father Jan Nisar Akhtar was also a famous Urdu poet. Javed's original name was Jadoo, taken from a line in a poem written by his father - "Lamba, lamba kisi jadoo ka fasana hoga". He was given an official name of Javed since it was the closest to the word "jadoo".

Javed Akhtar was married to Honey Irani, a script-writer for Hindi films, with whom he had two children Farhan Akhtar, a film director, and Zoya Akhtar. He is also the uncle of director Kabir Akhtar. His marriage proposal to Honey Irani was made on his behalf by Salim to her mother Perin Irani. Salim gave an unflattering description of Javed to her and portrayed him as a drunkard who visited prostitutes.Fact|date=August 2008 This incident was later parodied in one of Salim-Javed's most famous films "Sholay", with the character of Jai proposing to Basanti's aunt("mausi") on behalf of his friend Veeru (played by Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini and Dharmendra respectively). Another view is that this scene was inspired by an old poem by an Urdu poet from Hyderabad, India.Fact|date=August 2008

After Javed's divorce with Irani, he married actress Shabana Azmi, the daughter of another famous Urdu poet, Kaifi Azmi.

Awards

Javed Akhtar has won 5 National Film Award for Best Lyrics and 7 Filmfare Best Lyricist Awards for his Hindi lyrics. In the year 2004–2005, all the nominated songs were written by him.

He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1999 and received the Padma Bhushan in 2007. In 2007 he even received Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award and journey is going on.

Credits

cript

:"Movies written as part of the Salim-Javed team are marked as such."
* Don - The Chase Begins Again (Javed Akhtar)
* Lakshya, 2004
* Kabhi Na Kabhi, 1998

* Prem, 1987

* Roop ki Rani, Choron ka Raja
* Kaala Patthar, 1979 (Salim-Javed)
* Shaan, 1980 (Salim-Javed)
* Kranti, (Salim-Javed)
* Saagar
* Zamana,{Salim-Javed)
* Shakti, {Salim-Javed)
* Don, 1978 (Salim-Javed)
* Trishul, 1978 (Salim-Javed)
* Chacha Bhatija, 1977 (Salim-Javed)
* Immaan Dharam, 1977 (Salim-Javed)
* Sholay, 1975 (Salim-Javed)
* Aakhri Daao, 1975 (Salim-Javed)
* Deewaar, 1975 (Salim-Javed)
* Majboor, 1974 (Salim-Javed)
* Haath Ki Safai, 1974 (Salim-Javed)
* Yaadon Ki Baaraat, 1973 (Salim-Javed)
* Zanjeer, 1973 (Salim-Javed)
* Seeta Aur Geeta, 1972 (Salim-Javed)
* Andaz, 1971 (Salim-Javed}
* Haathi Mere Saathi, 1971 (Salim-Javed)

Lyrics

* Saagar
*
* Dil Chahta Hai
* Saath-Saath
* Narsimha
* Mashaal
* Sailaab
* Mr. India
* Tezaab
* Hafta bandh
* Joshilay
* Arjun
* Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja
* Yugandhar
* Jamai Raja
* Khel
* Gardish
* Silsila
* Papa Kehte Hain
* Border
* Sapnay
* Virasat
* Mrityu Dand
* Dastak
* Sardari Begum
* Saaz
* Mil Gayee Manzil Mujhe
* Diljale
* Yes Boss
* Darmiyan
* Aur pyar Ho Gaya
* Wajood
* Kabhi Na Kabhi
* Drohi
* Jeans
* Bada Din
* Duplicate
* Laawaris
* Godmother
* Baadshah
* Arjun Pandit
* 1947 Earth
* Dillagi
* Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani
* Refugee
* Karobaar
* Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai
* Raja Ko Rani Se Pyaar Ho Gaya
* Champion
* Gang
* Pyaar Ki Dhun
* Zubeidaa
* Lagaan
* Abhay
* Moksha
* Agni Varsha
* Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai
* Badhai Ho Badhai
* Ye Kya Ho Raha Hai
* Satta
* Love at Times Square
* Hero
* Armaan
* Chalte Chalte
* Kuch Naa Kaho
* Kal Ho Naa Ho
* L.O.C. Kargil
* Tehzeeb
* Main Hoon Na
* Veer-Zaara
* Lakshya
* Charas
* Kyun...! Ho Gaya Na
* Dobara
* Swades
* Kisna
*
*
* Dil Jo Bhi Kahey
*
* Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna
* Don - The Chase Begins Again
* Namastey London
* Tara Rum Pum
* Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal
* Welcome
* Jodhaa Akbar
* Exclusion (2008)
* Untitled Soham Shah Project (2007) (announced)
* Kismat Talkies (2008) (announced)
* Umrao Jaan 2 (2008) (announced)

ee also

* Urdu
* List of Urdu poets

References

* Chopra, Anupama, "Sholay - The Making Of A Classic" (Penguin Books) 2000 ISBN 0-14-029970-X

External links

*
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtalk/5312158.stm BBC's Noel Thompson interviews JavedAkhtar on 4 September 2006]
* [http://www.javedakhtar.com/ JavedAkhtar.com]