Naqsh Lyallpuri, Urdu poet and lyricist of Ulfat me zamane ki, dies at 89

Born in Llallpur in the part of Punjab now in Pakistan, Lyallpuri came to Mumbai in the late 1940s to make a career in Hindi cinema.

Renowned Urdu poet and lyricist Jaswant Rai Sharma, known to the world by his pen name Naqsh Lyallpuri, died here on Sunday, a family friend said.

Lyricist Naqsh Lyallpuri (left) with music composer Khayyam. (HT Archives)

He was 89. He had been ailing for some time and breathed his last around 11 a.m. at his Andheri home.

His funeral will take place at the Oshiwara crematorium on Sunday evening.

Born in Llallpur in the part of Punjab now in Pakistan, Lyallpuri came to Mumbai in the late 1940s to make a career in Hindi cinema.

Though he got his first break in 1952 as a song writer, real success eluded him till the early 1970s. He also worked with the postal department for some time to make ends meet during his early struggling days in Mumbai. Over the years, he collaborated with some top film directors, music directors and singers, penning soft melodies, romantic numbers and emotional songs that touched the hearts of millions.

Saddened by later day demands to infuse crude lyrics for songs, Lyallpuri retired from Bollywood in the late 1990s and penned songs for television.

He made a brief comeback in 2005-06 penning songs for the films Taj Mahal with Naushad and Yatra with Khayyam.