Shatir Ghaznavi
Shatir Ghaznavi (1905 – 1971) was a playwright, lyricist, story/screenplay and dialogue writer for movies both in British India and later in Pakistan.
[3] The well-known literary figure and broadcaster of the time, Sajjad Sarwar Niazi was the director of the Peshawar Radio Station.
[4] He spotted the talent of Shatir Ghaznavi and encouraged the young playwright to hone his skills.
[5] Stage drama was on the decline and further, it was following Agha Hashar's tradition of flowery and poetic language.
Even in his celebrated radio drama Zartaj in which Changez Khan and Halaku, grandfather and grandson, both fall in love with the same woman, speak in plain language like ordinary people.
[1] Some of its songs became instant hits like Ravi Kay Oos Par Sajanva, Gori Gori O Gawalan Kee Chori, Chal Prem Kay Pankh Lagaain and Jub Toot Gaya Darpan Mun Ka.
[4] Shatir joined J.K. Nanda as a writer and wrote the screenplay and dialogues of his film Ishara.
The movie industry came to a standstill and because of the prevailing circumstances, Shatir returned with his family to Lahore.
[4] Music was composed by two greats of the time, Master Ghulam Haider and Shyam Sunder.
[4] The main cast included Munawar Sultana, Satish, Manorma, Kalavati, and music was composed by Ghulam Haider.
Its producer, Krishan Kumar, a partner of Ata Ullah Shah Hashmi, took away the negatives of the movie to Bombay where it was completed and released under the name of "Kaneez" (1949 film).
[3] In June 1946, Shatir was assigned by Gupta Art Productions to write dialogues and lyrics for their film Aik Roaz.
The cast of the movie included Nasreen (mother of Salma Agha), Al Nasir, Asha Bhosle, Salim Raza etc.
During the making of the movie, subsequent to the partition, Hindu-Muslim riots broke out all over the Indian sub-continent including in Lahore.
[5] In 1947, Shatir wrote the dialogues and lyrics for Movie Maker's venture Khana Badosh.
[4] Music was composed by Master Ghulam Haider, Nina, Santosh Kumar, Ragini, Charlie and Nazeer were cast for the film.
[4] In the same year Shatir wrote the screenplay for Pakland Picture's venture, Hum Watan.
[5] After the completion of these movies, Shatir joined actor-director Nazir's film production unit known as Anees Pictures.
Nazir entrusted Shatir with the task of writing the story and dialogues for his film Bheegee Palkain.
On the other hand, Nazir, who was playing the lead role in the movie and also was the policy maker, wanted flowery language and high pitched, emotionally loaded dialogues.
[4] Subsequent to this, Shatir wrote stories and dialogues for a string of films produced/directed by Syed Ata Ullah Hashmi.
He became a recluse in the later part of his life as one of his sons, who was an officer in the Pakistan Army, was reported missing in the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971 in present day Bangladesh.
Before his son was identified a POW, Shatir died in his sleep in Lahore on 22 October 1971 where he was interred in the historic Miani Sahib Graveyard.
