Agha Hashar Kashmiri facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Agha Hashar Kashmiri
Agha Hashar's grave in Lahore
Born	Muhammad Shah 3 April 1879 Banaras, India
Died	1 April 1935 (aged 56) Lahore, Punjab Province, British India (now in Punjab, Pakistan)
Occupation	dramatist, playwright and poet
Spouse(s)	Mukhtar Begum
Relatives	Farida Khanum (sister-in-law)

Agha Hashar Kashmiri (born Muhammad Shah, 3 April 1879 – 1 April 1935) was a famous Urdu poet and playwright. A playwright is someone who writes plays for the theater. Many of his plays were like Indian versions of William Shakespeare's famous works. Because of this, he was sometimes called "The Indian Shakespeare."

Who was Agha Hashar Kashmiri?

Agha Hashar Kashmiri was a very important writer in the history of theater in India. He wrote many plays that were enjoyed by a lot of people. He was known for making plays that were both entertaining and had deep meanings.

Early Life and First Steps

Muhammad Shah, who later became known as Agha Hashar Kashmiri, was born in a place called Benares State in British India in 1879. From a young age, he loved watching plays. When he was just 14 years old, he moved to Bombay to start his career as a playwright.

A Star Playwright's Career

Agha Hashar Kashmiri's first play was called Aftab-e-Muhabbat. It was published in 1897. He started working for a theater company called the New Alfred Theatrical Company in Bombay. At first, he earned only 15 rupees a month.

His first play for this company was Mureed-e-Shak. This play was based on Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. It was a big hit! Because of its success and his growing popularity, his salary went up to 40 rupees a month. Agha was good at adding short songs and clever dialogues to his plays. He wrote many more plays that were based on Shakespeare's works. These included Shaheed-e-Naaz (which was also called Achuta Daaman) and Shabeed-e-Havas.

Famous Plays and Adaptations

One of his most famous plays was Yahudi Ki Ladki, which means The Daughter of a Jew. It was published in 1913. This play became a classic in Parsi theatre, which was a popular style of theater in India.

Yahudi Ki Ladki was so popular that it was made into movies many times. It was adapted during the time of silent films and also when "talkies" (movies with sound) first came out. Famous movie versions include Yahudi Ki Ladki (1933) and Yahudi (1958), which starred famous actors like Dilip Kumar and Meena Kumari.

His Personal Life

Agha Hashar Kashmiri was married to Mukhtar Begum. She was a talented classical singer from Calcutta. Mukhtar Begum was also the older sister of Farida Khanum, who is a well-known Pakistani singer.

Agha and Mukhtar Begum helped introduce an actress named Rani Begum to the entertainment world. Rani was the daughter of their driver. She later became a successful actress and dancer in the Pakistani film industry.

His Music in Films

Some of Agha Hashar Kashmiri's poems, called ghazals, were used in films and on television.

• "Chori Kaheen Khule Na Naseem-e-Bahar Ki" was sung by Tina Sani for a Pakistan Television show. His wife, Mukhtar Begum, originally sang it in 1938.
• "Ghair Ki Baaton Ka Aakhir Eitbaar Aa Hee Gaya" was sung by Naseem Begum for the 1965 Pakistani film Kaneez.
• Another popular ghazal by him is "Mein chaman mein khush nahin hoon, Mere aur hain iraday." This song was recently performed by Ali Sethi.

His Lasting Legacy

Agha Hashar Kashmiri passed away on April 1, 1935, in Lahore, British India. He is remembered in the writings of Hakim Ahmad Shuja, who worked with him on several plays.

In 2005, an event was held in Karachi to mark 70 years since his death. Important people from the 'National Academy of Performing Arts' spoke about how important he was. They said that whenever the history of theater in the region is written, Agha Hashar Kashmiri will always have a special place.

His Plays

Here are some of the plays written by Agha Hashar Kashmiri:

• Aankh ka Nasha
• Asir-e-Hirs
• Bhagirath Ganga
• Dil to Pyas
• Khwab-e-Hasti
• Madhur Murli
• Rustom O Sohrab
• Safed Khoon
• Said-e-Hawas
• Sita Banbas
• Turki Hur
• Yahudi Ki Ladki

See Also

In Spanish: Agha Hashar Kashmiri para niños

• Agha Hasan Amanat
• Hakim Ahmad Shuja