Javed Akhtar’s Lyrics Are an Ode to the Poetry & Beauty of Romance

Remember these evergreen numbers?

Love and poetry go hand in hand in Bollywood, creating innumerable ditties dedicated to screen romances. While most fail to stand the test of time, it can’t be said of the creations of Javed Akhtar. The screenwriter-lyricist-poet brings a poetic vision to his odes to love, loss and life, and has over the years, gifted us some of our evergreen numbers.

It all started with “Dekha Ek Khwab” from Yash Chopra’s Silsila in 1981, which Akhtar only penned because he couldn’t override Chopra’s charm and persuasive powers. The rest, as they say, is history.

Let’s revisit some of Javed Akhtar’s most memorable lyrics on his 74th birthday on 17 January.