Mirza Ghalib

Mirza Ghalibs original Takhallus (pen-name) was Asad, derived from his name, Asadullah Khan. Later he also decided to adopt the takhallus ‘Ghalib’ which means one who conquers all, superior, most excellent.

The legend has it that he changed his pen name to ‘Ghalib‘ when he came across this sher (couplet) written by another poet:

Asad us jafaa par butoN say wafaa ki
mire sher shabaash rahmat Khudaa ki

Translated Version:

Asad worshipped idols after being betrayed.
my poems(thank you,)are, the mercy of GOD.

Ghalib is known for its romance and just check out the way it reflects in the ghazal below. The immense fanaticism, the play of words its all their. Ghalib puts you in a perspective which is totally out of this world. That why he is Mirza Ghlaib.

bas ki dushwaar hai har kaam ka aasaa.N honaaa
aadamii ko bhii mayassar nahii.n insaa.N honaa

[dushwaar=difficult; mayassar=possible]

giriyaa chaahe hai Kharaabii mere kaashaane kii
dar-o-diivaar se Tapake hai bayaabaa.N honaa

[giriyaa=wiiping; kaashaanaa=small house; bayaabaa.N=wilderness]

waa-e-diiwaangii-e-shauq ke har dam mujh ko
aap jaanaa udhar aur aap hii hairaa.N honaa

jalvaa az_bas ke taqaaza-e-nigah karataa hai
jauhar-e-aaiina bhii chaahe hai mizaGaa.N honaa

This movie depicts the life of once wealthy poet and nobleman Mirza Ghalib. This story portrays his trials, tribulations, triumphs, and utlimate descent to poverty, and then to prison; and his tragic and ill-fated love with a beautiful courtesan named Chaudvin.

Cast and Review

• Actors: Bharat Bhushan, Suraiya, Ulhas, Durga Khote, Mukri
• Format: Black & White, Subtitled
• Subtitles: English

This Ghazal of ghalib is about love and pain, when one is away from his beloved and is remembering the times he spent together. The mood of the ghazal takes you one step further where one renounces not just love but also the world around and is tired of everything that is happening to him in his life. An emotion probably ghalib was going through in later period in life around 40- 50.

woh firaaq aur woh wisaal kahaaN ?
woh shab-o-roz-o-maah-o-saal kahaaN ?

[ firaaq = separation, wisaal = meeting, shab = night, roz = day, maah = month, saal = year ]