By: Farhana Sultana

Noted filmmaker-poet-lyricist-writer, Gulzar - legend and genius, immaculate in his legendary white kurta pyjama and white jooties, is one of those sensitive writer-directors with a psychologically adroit examination of human sensibilities in his works. You are enveloped by the presence of a legend - a man who has been honoured with seven national awards for his skills in screenplay, direction and lyrics; and has moved you with his films.

Gulzar - aka Sampooran Singh was born in Deena (now in Pakistan) on 18th August 1936. After the partition he came to Delhi and started as a poet, and began his film career only in 1961 as an assistant to Bimal Roy. He started writing songs for films with Bimal da's BANDINI. "Mora Gora Ang Layee Le" is supposed to be his first big break, although his first film to be released was KABULI WALA.

After winning accolades as a sensitive lyricist, he penned scripts for films for directors including Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Asit Sen. Some of the scripts Gulzar wrote include ANAND (1970), GUDDI (1971), BAWARCHI (1972), DO DOONI CHAR (1968), KHAMOSHI (1969) and SAFAR (1970). But it was with MERE APNE in 1971, that Gulzar started his career as a director, based on Tapan Sinha's 'Apanjan' starring Meena Kumari and Vinod Khanna in pivotal roles. After which Gulzar made PARICHAY (1972) loosely based on THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1964), then his classic KOSHISH (1972), a sensitive tale on the travails of a deaf-dumb couple, splendidly played by Sanjeev Kumar and Jaya Bhaduri. He went on to make many more fine films like AANDHI (1975), MAUSAM (1975), ANGOOR (1981), and NAMKEEN (1982) among many others. Since then he has written scripts for more than sixty films and directed thirteen movies, each a magnum opus.

 Gulzar always believed that the present is never complete till the past has been reflected upon. Not surprisingly, the flashback forms an integral part of his narrative technique in all his films. Being a poet-lyricist-writer, Gulzar loves music a lot. Exceptionally high quality of music has always been the central ingredient of his films. Gulzar maintains that music has a natural place in our lives that fills our spaces naturally. He formed a brilliant team with RD Burman who scored the music for most of his films. The songs have become something you consume constantly.

The 1980s and 1990s saw a decline in Gulzar, the filmmaker even though films like IJAAZAT (1987), LEKIN (1990) and MAACHIS (1996) had their moments. One of the most outstanding jobs Gulzar did was for the small screen, the serial called Mirza Ghalib, the most memorable TV productions starring Naseeruddin Shah. Besides this Gulzar also directed documentaries on Amjad Ali Khan and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi apart from completing Sukhdev's film SHAIRA on Meena Kumari.

Apart from being a splendid filmmaker, Gulzar is also a litterateur. His poetic sense led him to write short stories in Urdu, authored many books on poetry, a book of short stories and more than a dozen books for children. One of the storybooks for children, 'Ekta' received an award from the National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) in 1989. He has also been awarded the Sahitya Akademy Award in 2003 for his collection of short stories titled 'Dhuaan'.

Gulzar has been honoured time and again for his working the film arena as well. He has won the National Award thrice - Best Screenplay for KOSHISH, Best Director for MAUSAM and Best Lyricist for IJAAZAT. He has also won the Filmfare Awards 14 times - and seven of them for Best Lyricist. More recently Gulzar was conferred the Padma Bhushan Award from the Honourary President APJ Abdul Kalam at an investiture ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

Long live Gulzar, clearly a true asset of Hindi Cinema.

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