On lyricist Kaifi Azmi's death anniversary on May 10, Subhash K Jha revisits some of his finest songs.
Waqt Ke Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam from Kagaz Ke Phool
Lata Mangeshkar once picked this song as her favourite.
Did she wish she had sung it?
'No one could sing it better than Geeta Dutt,' Lataji said.
Kar Chale Hum Fida from Haqeeqat
A martyred soldier's last salute to his motherland.
During the recording, Mohammed Rafi was so moved by the lyrics that he choked many times and the recording had to be stopped.
Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho from Arth
'I am always congratulated on how I emoted in this song, but it was all in the lyrics,' says Shabana Azmi.
'I just followed the words and the emotions came out.'
Do Din Ki Zindagi Kaisi Hai Zindagi from Satyakam
'Kuch gaane aise hote hain jisske shabd ke baare mein koi shabd nahin,' Director Hrishikesh Mukherjee once told me. 'Do Din Ki Zindagi was one of them.'
Lataji recalled she frequently had to pause the recording and collect herself before resuming, especially the lines, 'Pehle toh kya kya sapne dikhlaye duniya, phir khud hi toota sapna ban jaye duniya.'
Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil from Heer Ranjha
Chetan Anand's film was written in poetry, and the songs were masterpieces.
Hai Tere Saath Meri Wafaa Main Nahin Toh Kya from Hindustan Ki Kasam
'Kafisaab wrote poetry that the common man could understand,' says son-in-law Javed Akhtar.
When a stanza of this Lata Mangeshkar song was edited from the film, Kaifisaab was most upset.
Luckily, the entire song is available on the Internet.
Tu Kahan Aa Gayi Zindagi from Bhavna
'Kaifisaab's words were so simple, yet so sharp,' Lataji, who sang the song, said.
'They were not lyrics, they were a tribute to life.'