The celebrated Urdu poet and Bollywood lyricist – Rahat Indori

by Sandy · March 21, 2019

Rahat Indori was an Urdu and Hindi poet based in Bhopal. He is a popular Bollywood lyricist too, and loved by millions of fans across the globe. He is a recipient of numerous awards also. He has been writing Bollywood songs since 1990s, and Kareeb, Mission Kashmir, Naaraaz, Ishq, Meenaxi, Ghatak, Khuddar etc are some of his major Bollywood works. He is quite regular in Mushaira and Kavi Sammelans in the past 5 decades or so, and has performed in other countries too. He passed away on 11th August 2020, following a heart attack. He was tested positive in Covid 19, just a few hours before demise.

Modern Urdu poet Rahat Indori was born on the New Year day of 1950 in Indore. Rahat gave his first public performance at the age of 19 while doing his graduation and has been reciting poems since then. Since early days his poetry works were par excellence and far advanced in the decade he was living then. His first All India Mushaira happened in 1972 when an opportunity was given by his maternal uncle. He married Anjum Rehbar in 1988 and they mutually separated in 1993. The couple has one son – Sameer Rahat. Later Rahat remarried Seema Rahat while Anjum remained single.

Rahat Indori – Some interesting facts

1. His surname ‘Indori’ is derived from his hometown Indore of Madhya Pradesh. ‘Qureshi’ is his real surname.

2. At the age of 10, he started working as a sign painter and by teens started writing sign boards too. He also designs book covers.

3. His first wife Anjum Rehbar is regular with her poetry recitals in Doordarshan and other private TV channels, and is a known face among TV audience. She is active in poetry recitals since 1977.

4. He took PhD in Urdu literature from the Bhoj University in 1985 for his thesis – Urdu Main Mushaira.

5. He has been a sportsperson in the academic years.

6. As a lyricist he frequently worked with Anu Malik in the 1990s, writing several popular romantic tracks. Kareeb is the most popular album of the duo. Khuddar, Naaraz, Murder, Ishq, Ghatak etc are a few more.