Urdu Poet, Sahir Ludhianvi wrote his first song for a Bollywood film in 1950. A year later he got his first major assignment, writing the lyrics for Baazi (1951), which was scored by S.D. Burman. The success of songs like Taqdeer Si Bhigri Hui Taqdeer resulted in instant fame. Other notable work in the 50s, included Munimji (1955), Pyaasa (1957), Naya Daur (1958).

Sahir was the first lyricist to receive royalty from music companies for his work. Of his best work in the 60s, Barsaat Ki Ek Raat (1960) and Taj Mahal (1963) with Roshan, and Gumrah (1963) and Waqt (1965) with Ravi, stand out. Things quietened down from the the late 60s onwards, before Sahir's finest hour came with Yash Chopra's Kabhi Kabhie (1976).