Javed Akhtar
Javed Akhtar – The name spells romance, intellect and aesthetics. Javed Akhtar has won honour and acclaim as a lyricist, screenplay writer and poet. Javed Akhtar was born in Gwalior and is the son of renowned Urdu Poet and film lyricist Jan Nisar Akhtar and Safia Akhtar, a writer and a teacher. The tradition of writing goes back to seven generations of writers in the family. The highly respected Urdu poet, Majaz was his mother's brother and the work of Muzter Khairabadi, his grandfather, is looked upon as a milestone in Urdu Poetry. His parents were professors at the Hamidia College in Bhopal.
He arrived in Bombay on October 4, 1964. In his early years living in Bombay, 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 work together with other associates such as Salim Khan, the father of Salman, Arbaaz, and Sohail Khan.
Javed Akhtar's songs are rhythmic, reflective on life and very melodic and catchy.
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. 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).
After Javed's divorce with Irani, he married actress Shabana Azmi, the daughter of another famous Urdu poet, Kaifi Azmi.
Javed Akhtar's body of work can be placed under three distinct categories, that of a scriptwriter, a lyricist, and a poet. Along with his erstwhile partner, Salim Khan, he scripted some huge hits like Zanjeer, Deewar, Sholay, Haathi Mere Saathi, Seetha Aur Geeta, Don and Trishul. Salim-Javed, as a writer-duo, gave Amitabh Bachchan and Indian Cinema the memorable persona of the 'Angry Young Man'.
Salim-Javed parted ways in 1981and since then, Javed has written the scripts of successful movies like Sagar, Betaab and Arjun. After scripting a few unsuccessful films like Prem and Khel , he took a break from scriptwriting and concentrated on his role as a lyricist. Some of his best works as a songwriter include Saaz, for which he won the 1996 National Award for Best Lyricist, an award he bagged for three consecutive years- 1996 for Saaz, 1997 for Border and 1998 for Godmother.
Javed Saheb’s first collection of Urdu poetry, Tarkash was released in 1995. It has editions in Hindi as well as Urdu. It has received rave reviews both as a book and as India's first audio book (available on cassettes and CD) brought out by Plus Music. The audio book has sold more than a hundred thousand copies. Tarkash has been translated in Bengali by the noted Bengali author Sunil Gangopadhyaya. Renowned painter, M.F. Hussain has painted sixteen canvases based on Javed Saheb’s poems in Tarkash.
In 1999, the President of India honoured Javed Akhtar with the title of "Padmashree" for his literary contribution. He has written a large number of poems against Communalism, Social Injustice, and National Integration and for Women's Rights. He composed a song, urging the misguided youth to come forward and build the country, which was declared the National Anthem for Youth by the Ministry of Human Resource Development in 1995.
Javed Saheb has collaborated with Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan on Sangam, with Jagjit Singh on Silsilay and with Shankar Mahadevan on his album Breathless. His music album "Tum yaad aaye" was the highest selling non-film album of the year 1997.
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.
Movies written as part of the Salim-Javed team are marked as such.
* Sholay (new) (in production)
* Don - The Chase Begins Again (Javed Akhtar)
* Lakshya, 2004
* Kabhi Na Kabhi, 1998
* Prem, 1995
* Roop ki Rani, Choron ka Raja, 1993
* Kaala Patthar, 1979 (Salim-Javed)
* Shaan, 1980 (Salim-Javed)
* Kranti, (Salim-Javed)
* Saagar
* Zamana,{Salim-Javed)
* Shakti, {Salim-Javed)
* Don, 1978 (Salim-Javed)
* Trishul, 1977 (Salim-Javed)
* Chacha Bhatija, 1977 (Salim-Javed)
* Immaan Dharam, 1977 (Salim-Javed)
* Sholay (old), 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)
* Haathi Mere Saathi, 1970 (Salim-Javed)
* Andaz, 1970 (Salim-Javed}
Lyrics
* Sagar, 1987 (composer: Rahul Dev Burman)
* 1942: A Love Story, 1994 (composer: Rahul Dev Burman)
* Lagaan, 2001 (composer: A. R. Rahman)
* Veer-Zaara, 2004 (composer: Madan Mohan)
* Dil Chahta Hai, 2001
* 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
* Pyar Ki Dhun
* Zubeidaa
* 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
* Lakshya
* Charas
* Kyun! Ho Gaya Na
* Dobara
* Swades
* Kisna
* Bose:The Forgotten Hero
* Mangal Pandey: The Rising
* Dil Jo Bhi Kahey
* Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love (2006)
* Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna
* Don
* Namastey London
* Exclusion (2006)
* Untitled Soham Shah Project (2007) (announced)
* Kismat Talkies (2008) (announced)
* Umrao Jaan 2 (2008) (announced)
* Tara rum pum (2007)
The Best of Javed Akhtar
Song & Movie
Ye tera ghar ye mera ghar -- Saath-Saath
Tumko dekha to ye khayal aaya -- Saath-Saath
Kate nahin kat te din -- Mr. India
Ek do teen -- Tezaab
So gaya ye jahan -- Tezaab
Kehdo ke tum ho meri -- Tezaab
Sach mere yaar hai -- Saagar
Saagar kinare -- Saagar
Chehra hai ya chand khila hai -- Saagar
Ye kahan aa gaye hum -- Silsila
Dekha ek khwaab to -- Silsila
Ek ladki ko dekha to -- 1942 A Love Story
Pyar hua chupke se -- 1942 A Love Story
Ruth na jaana -- 1942 A Love Story
Kuch na kaho -- 1942 A Love Story
Ye safar -- 1942 A Love Story
Ghar se nikalte hi -- Papa kehte hain
Sandeshe aate hain -- Border
Ae Jate hue Lamhoon -- Border
Awara bhanvray -- Sapnay
Payalen chunmun chunmun -- Virasat
Jaadu bhari aankhon -- Dastak
Kya tumne ye keh diya -- Saaz
Ho nahin sakta -- Diljale
Main koi aisa geet gaoon -- Yes Boss
Chand tare -- Yes Boss
Suniye to -- Yes Boss
Jaata hai tu kahan -- Yes Boss
Suno zara suno zara -- Bada Din
Mere mehboob mere sanam -- Duplicate
Woh Ladki Jo -- Baadshah
Rut Aa Gayee Re -- 1947 Earth
Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani -- Phir Bhi dil Hai Hindustani
Panchhi Nadiyan Pawan ke Jhoken -- Refugee
Dheeme Dheeme -- Zubeidaa
Ghanan Ghanan -- Lagaan
Mitwa -- Lagaan
Radha Kaise Na Jale -- Lagaan
Dil Chahta Hai -- Dil Chahta Hai
Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe -- Dil Chahta Hai
Sharara -- Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai
Tauba Tumhare Ishare -- Chalte-Chalte
Chalte-Chalte -- Chalte-Chalte
Kal ho na ho -- Kal Ho Na Ho
Mahi we -- Kal Ho Na Ho
Awards
Award & Movie
National Award - 1996 -- Saaz
National Award - 1997 -- Border
National Award - 2001 -- Refugee
Filmfare - 1994 -- 1942 A Love Story
Filmfare - 1996 -- Papa Kehte Hain
Filmfare - 1997 -- Border
Filmfare - 2000 -- Refugee
Filmfare - 2001 -- Lagaan
Filmfare - 1989 -- Main Azad Hoon
Zee Cine - 1997 -- Border
Zee Cine - 2001 -- Lagaan
Zee Cine - 2002 -- Refugee
Screen - 1994 -- 1942 A Love Story
Screen - 1997 -- Border