The Dadasehab Phalke award for excellence in cinema and contribution to the arts has found a most deserving recipient this time in 79-year-old Gulzar. The award has often run into criticism for being either too early or sometimes too late in its recognition of artistic contribution to cinema. But in Gulzar’s case it is perfectly timed. He’s already got an Oscar and a Grammy for Jai Ho (Slumdog Millionaire), which he shares with A.R. Rahman. And that isn’t even his best work.
Sampooran Singh Kalra, who took the nom de plume Gulzar Deenvi, is not just an outstanding poet and lyricist, but a very fine scriptwriter and director as well.
Gulzar began his film career writing songs. The first songs credited to him, songs that remain popular after more than 50 years, include Aye Mere Pyare Watan (Kabuliwala, 1961), Mora Gora Ang Laile (Bandhini, 1963). After writing dialogues, screenplays and lyrics for films like Anand and Khamoshi, Gulzar wrote and directed his first film, Mere Apne (1971). This film, on students’ movement, marked the beginning of his career as a writer-director known for films that weren’t just cinematically and aesthetically strong, but also politically volatile.
But Gulzar the poet and songwriter stands apart and above the master filmmaker. The visual imagery in his verse, the delicate feelings and emotions his lines capture is matched only by his raucous and raunchy numbers. Which other lyricist of our time can take credit for a song like Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi and Kajra Re? Only Gulzar.
