Rahi Masoom Raza

Rahi Masoom Raza (1 September 1927 – 15 March 1992) was an Indian Urdu and Hindi poet and writer and a Bollywood lyricist. He won the Filmfare Best Dialogue Award for the film Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki in 1979, followed by Mili and Lamhe. He is best known for the screenplay and dialogues of 1988 TV series Mahabharat.

Early life and education
Raza was born in a Muslim family in a village named Gangauli, in Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh. He was the younger brother of educationist Moonis Raza and scholar Mehdi Raza.

Raza completed his early education in Ghazipur, and higher education at Aligarh Muslim University, where his studies and life revolved around Muslim theology. He completed a doctorate in Hindustani Literature and pursued a career in literature. He wrote novels under the pseudonym, Shahid Akhtar, for an Urdu magazine Rumani Duniya from Allahabad. He then went on to become a Lecturer in Urdu at Aligarh Muslim University before moving to Bombay (now Mumbai).

Literary career
He wrote the script and dialogues for a TV serial, Mahabharat. The TV serial was based on the epic, the Mahabharata. The serial became a popular TV serial in India, with a peak television rating of around 86%.

Works
His works include:


 * Novels
 * Adha Gaon (The Divided Village)
 * Dil Ek Saada Kaghaz
 * Topi Shukla
 * Os Ki Boond
 * Katra Bi Arzoo
 * Scene No. 75
 * Poetry
 * Mauz-e-ghul mauz-e-saba (Urdu)
 * Ajnabee shahar: ajnabee raste (Urdu)
 * Main ek Feriwala (Hindi)
 * Sheeshe ke Makaan Wale (Hindi)
 * Autobiography
 * Chotey aadmi ki badee kahaani ("Big Story of a Small Man")
 * Movie and TV scripts
 * Neem ka Ped – novel and TV serial of the same name
 * Kissi Se Na Kehna
 * Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki
 * Disco Dancer (1982)
 * Mahabharat (1988)
 * Movie dialogues
 * Alaap (1977)
 * Gol Maal (1979)
 * Karz (1980)
 * Judaai (1980)
 * Hum Paanch (1980)
 * Anokha Rishta (1986)
 * Baat Ban Jaye (1986)
 * Naache Mayuri (1986)
 * Awam (1987)
 * Lamhe (1991)
 * Parampara (1992)
 * Aaina (1993)
 * Movie Lyrics
 * Alaap (1977)
 * Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand (Jagjit Singh & Chitra Singh)