Qateel Shifai

Biography

Qateel Shifai (born Muhammad Aurangzeb Khan; 24 December 1919 – 11 July 2001) was a legendary Pakistani Urdu poet and film lyricist celebrated for his deeply lyrical ghazals, nazms, and romantic geets. Born in Haripur, he faced early hardship when his father died in 1935, forcing him to leave school and navigate various early business struggles before pivoting entirely to poetry and relocating to Lahore. Adopting his pen name in 1938—combining "Qateel" with "Shifai" as a tribute to his mentor, Hakeem Mohammed Shifa—he built a prolific literary career spanning over twenty poetry collections, such as Haryali, Mutriba, and Guftagoo. Renowned for his accessible language, emotional realism, and musicality, Shifai also became a titan in the South Asian film industry, writing more than 2,500 memorable lyrics for both Pakistani and Indian cinema. His enduring contributions earned him numerous honors, including Pakistan's prestigious Pride of Performance award, before his passing in July 2001.