Leila Kasra facts for kids

Leila Kasra (Persian: لیلا کسری‎; 1939–1989), also known as Hedieh (Persian: هدیه), was a very important Iranian poet and songwriter. She wrote the words, called lyrics, for many famous artists. These included singers like Ebi, Dariush, Sattar, and Moein. She was especially known for writing over 30 songs for the famous singer Hayedeh.

Leila Kasra's Life Story

Leila Kasra was born in Tehran, Iran, on March 27, 1939. After finishing high school in Tehran, she moved to England. There, she studied and earned a degree in English literature from King's College London.

When she returned to Iran, Leila first worked for a company called Iran Petrochemical Commercial Company. However, she soon left that job to follow her passion for poetry. In 1956, she began writing articles for popular magazines like Omide Iran and Etelate Banouan. Her very first poem was published in Etelate Banouan in 1959.

In 1969, Leila Kasra published two books of her own poetry. One of her books even won a television poetry contest. She shared the award with another poet, Manouchehr Atashi.

In 1975, a music producer asked Leila to start writing song lyrics. This is how she became a professional lyricist. The first song she wrote was "Doayeh Sahar," sung by Hayedeh. Before the Iranian Revolution, she wrote many memorable songs for artists. These included Hayedeh, Ebi, and Mahasti.

After the Iranian Revolution, like many artists, Leila Kasra moved to the United States. In the U.S., she started using the pen name "Hedieh" for her songs. She wrote many more popular songs, especially for her close friend Hayedeh. She also wrote for newer artists like Andy & Kouros and Siavash.

In 1986, Leila Kasra wrote a special song called "Tanine Solh." This song was about the Iran–Iraq War. Several artists, including Andy & Kouros and Moein, performed it together. Two of her songs, sung by Andy, were even used in the movie House of Sand and Fog in 2003.

Family Life

Leila Kasra was married to Eskandar Afshar. They had three sons named Jahanshah, Amir-Pasha, and Alidad. Her youngest son, Ali Afshar, is now an actor and producer in Los Angeles.

Health Challenges and Passing

In 1977, Leila Kasra was diagnosed with breast cancer. For the next twelve years, she bravely fought the illness. The song "Gheseye Man," which Hayedeh sang in 1984, was written by Leila Kasra about her own struggles with her illness.

Leila Kasra passed away on May 16, 1989, in Los Angeles. She had undergone seventeen surgeries during her battle with cancer. Her funeral was held on May 21, 1989, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles. Many artists and friends attended to say goodbye.

Sadly, her close friend, the singer Hayedeh, passed away from a heart attack just eight months after Leila.

Famous Songs by Leila Kasra (Hedieh)

Leila Kasra wrote many popular songs. Here are some of them:

• "Doayeh Sahar" by Hayedeh
• "Ghesseyeh Man" by Hayedeh
• "Shabeh Eshgh" by Hayedeh
• "Atreh Bahar" by Mahasti
• "Modara" by Mahasti
• "Safar" by Moein
• "Kolbeh Man" by Ebi
• "Shirin Shirin" by Dariush
• "Ine Donya" by Homeyra
• "Madar" by Sattar
• "Tanine Solh" by Andy & Kouros, Fataneh, Moein, and Morteza

See also

• Shahyar Ghanbari
• Ebi
• Mina Assadi
• Mahasti
• Forugh Farrokhzad