Naqsh Lyallpuri

Jaswant Rai Sharma (24 February 1928 – 22 January 2017), popularly known by his pen name Naqsh Lyallpuri, was an Indian ghazal and Hindi language film lyricist. He is best known for the songs "Rasm-e-Ulfat Ko Nibhayen" (Dil Ki Rahen, 1973), “Ulfat Mein Zamaane Ki” (Call Girl, 1974), "Tumhe Ho Na Ho" (Gharonda, 1977), Piya Tum Ho Sagar (Tumhare Liye 1978), "Yeh Mulaqaat Ek Bahana Hai " (Khandaan, 1979), "Pyar Ka Dard Hai" (Dard, 1981), and "Chitthiye Ni Dard Firaaq Vaaliye" (Henna, 1991).

Early life Jaswant Rai was born in Lyallpur (now called Faisalabad and in present-day Pakistan) on 24 February 1928 to a Punjabi carpenter Vishwakarma family. His father, a mechanical engineer, wanted Jaswant to be an engineer, too. He disapproved of Jaswant's affinity for literature, saying that he would never be able to earn a living through writing stories and ditties. Sharma was only eight years old when his mother died of chickenpox. His father remarried a couple of years later, something which the young Sharma resented.

Lyallpuri debuted as a film lyricist with the 1953 film Jaggu, writing the lyrics of "Agar Teri Aankhon Se Aankhein Mila Doon", rendered by Asha Bhosle and composed by Hansraj Bahl.

Lyallpuri is best known for the song "Tumhe Ho Na Ho" from the film Gharonda (1977), sung by Bangladeshi singer Runa Laila. The song is often wrongly ascribed to Gulzar, who wrote the other songs in the film, whereas the song "Do Deewane Shahar Mein" in the same film is misattributed to Lyallpuri. His "Pyar Ka Dard Hai" from the 1981 film Dard has been lauded for Kishore Kumar's soft singing and for using "everyday lyrics". He was a founding member of the Indian Performing Rights Society, which works for royalty rights of music directors and lyricists.

Selective filmography

1952 – Jaggu 1968 - Teri Talash Mein 1970 – Chetna 1971 – Man Tera Tan Mera 1974 – Call Girl 1982 – Dil-e-Nadaan