Riaz-Ur-Rehman Saghar was a poet and a filmsonglyricist active in Pakistani cinema. He had been awarded numerous awards in recognition of his services to the Pakistani film industry. He is credited with having written over 25000 songs in his lifetime, including many for noted Pakistani singers such as Hadiqa Kiani and a duet song with Asha Bhosle and Adnan Sami Khan. Saghar also wrote prose and film dialogue in some of the films.
Early life
Riaz-ur-Rehman Saghar was born on 1 December 1941 in Bathinda, Punjab, British India to Maulvi Muhammad Azeem and Sadiqan Bibi. In 1947, his family emigrated to Pakistan as refugees following the independence of Pakistan. During the journey, Saghar's father was murdered by a Sikh extremist, and his infant brother died of starvation. In Walton Cantonment and later Multan, where Saghar and his mother settled, they made their living making and selling paper bags in the marketplace. Saghar enrolled in Millat High School where he discovered his love of poetry. He later entered Emerson College Multan for Intermediate Studies, where his poetry readings attracted large crowds. After several warnings, he was expelled from Emerson, after which he traveled to Lahore to begin his career. He finished his schooling in Multan and then moved to Lahore in 1957.
Career
In journalism
In Lahore, Saghar found a job at Lail o Nahar, an Urdu-language weekly magazine, where he worked for a year but soon realized it was not his place of interest. He moved on to Nawa-i-Waqt daily newspaper and while there, he did his Intermediate and bachelor's degrees in 'Punjabi Fazil'. He worked as a culture and film editor at Nawa-i-Waqt and the weekly 'Family' magazine till 1996.
Saghar was the first columnist to write on national political situations in the form of a ballad. His first column was published in 1996 by the title of "Arz Kia Hai", covering political, social and cultural Issues. His last column was published in Nawa-i-Waqt on 24 March 2013 by the title of "Subah ka sitara chup gya ha" .
Career in the film industry
As a songwriter
While working as a journalist, Saghar's love for poetry remained strong. In 1958, he wrote his first song for a film that was never released. His first released song was in the film Alia, but his first real success came with the song "Mere dil kay sanam khane mei ek tasveer aisi hai" from the film Shareek e Hayat. He wrote film song lyrics for a Punjabi movie "Ishq Khuuda" which was released after his death. Saghar worked as a journalist but his passion for poetry drove him to the film world as well.
Saghar worked as a dialogue and story writer for about 75 films, including Shama, Naukar, Susraal, Shabana, Nazrana, Aurat aik paheli, Aawaz, BharosaTarana and Moor
As a film and TV songwriter
Saghar has written over 2,000 songs for many singers and music directors for Pakistani films, radio and TV. Some of his popular songs were:
Ankhein Ghazal Hain Aapki Aur Hount Hain Gulab Sung by Asad Amanat Ali Khan, music by M. Ashraf, film Saheli
Dekha Jo Chehra Tera Mausam Bhi Pyara Laga Sung by Arshad Mehmood, music by Amjad Bobby, film Ghunghat
Mujh Ko Bhi Koi Lift Karadey Sung by Adnan Sami Khan
After being ill for a few months, Riaz ur Rehman Saghar lost his battle to cancer in Jinnah Hospital, Lahore on 1 June 2013 and kaid to rest in kareem block iqbal town graveyard on 2 June 2013. "He could write a poem in 10 to 15 minutes no matter how noisy it was." said a Pakistani journalist Sajid Yazdani who had associated with him for 10 to 15 years. Among his survivors were a wife and a daughter. Veteran Pakistani musician Arshad Mehmood said at his death that he was one of the poets who understood music as much as he understood poetry.
