Rahat Indori was a renowned Indian Urdu poet, lyricist and academic known for his powerful poetry, distinctive style and memorable Hindi film songs. Born Rahat Qureshi on 1 January 1950 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, he became one of India's most popular contemporary Urdu poets. His poetry was admired for its emotional intensity, social commentary and powerful presentation. (rekhta.org)
As a film lyricist, Rahat Indori wrote songs for numerous Hindi films, including Mission Kashmir, Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., Kareeb, Khuddar and Ishq. His songs often retained the poetic character of his Urdu writing while adapting naturally to cinematic situations. (imdb.com)
Some of his well-known film songs include “M Bole Toh”, “Chori Chori Chupke Chupke”, “Neend Churayi Meri”, “Tumsa Koi Pyaara” and “Koi Jaaye Jo Vrindavan.”
Rahat Indori was born Rahat Qureshi on 1 January 1950 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. His father, Rafiquatullah Qureshi, worked as a mill employee, while his mother was Maqbool-un-Nisa Begum. Rahat was the youngest of four children. (rekhta.org)
He completed his schooling in Indore and developed an early interest in poetry and sports. He began participating in mushairas and poetic gatherings while he was still young. His distinctive voice and dramatic presentation quickly made him a popular performer.
Rahat completed his M.A. in Urdu literature from Barkatullah University, Bhopal, and later obtained a Ph.D. in Urdu literature from Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore, in 1985. His doctoral research focused on Urdu poetry and the development of the mushaira tradition. (rekhta.org)
For many years, he worked as a professor of Urdu literature at Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya. At the same time, his reputation as a poet continued to grow through performances in India and abroad.
His poetry was characterised by a strong combination of romance, rebellion, humour, social criticism and human emotion. He was particularly admired for his ability to communicate complex ideas using accessible and memorable language.
Rahat Indori also became an important Hindi-film lyricist. He worked with several prominent filmmakers and music composers. His film-writing credits included Khuddar (1994), Kareeb (1998), Ishq (1997), Mission Kashmir (2000), Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities (2004), Murder (2004), Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003) and Main Tera Dushman. (imdb.com)
His lyrics for “Neend Churayi Meri” from Ishq and “M Bole Toh” from Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. became particularly popular. His ability to write memorable phrases helped his film songs reach a much wider audience.
Apart from films, Rahat Indori published several poetry collections and remained one of the most sought-after performers at mushairas and poetry festivals. His performances became especially popular on television and online platforms, introducing his poetry to younger audiences.
One of his best-known couplets begins with “Bulati hai magar jaane ka nahi”, which became widely shared on social media and further increased his popularity among younger generations.
Rahat Indori died in Indore on 11 August 2020 at the age of 70. He had tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted to Aurobindo Hospital, where he suffered a cardiac arrest.