I feel blessed, recognised: Gulzar

Gulzar said he felt “fulfilled” to get recognised for his work. “I am happy and honoured. It is a national honour. It is a feeling of fulfilment of not one song, screenplay, but the total work one does. I feel blessed to get this honour. I am thankful to everyone for their love and support. I am thankful to the jury members. It is a way of respect which says your work is loved and you are on the right path,”he said. 

 

Born Sampooran Singh Kalra in 1934 in the erstwhile unified Punjab in pre-Independence India, Gulzar and his family were among the many victims of Partition. The family moved to Amritsar but Gulzar came to Mumbai and began to work as a garage mechanic while writing poetry in his spare time. He started his career as a lyricist in 1956 and got his first break in Bimal Roy’s Bandini and the song Mora gora ang lai le, filmed on Nutan, became an instant hit. 

 

Apart from lyrics, he has contributed to several films as script, story and dialogue writer. 

He is also widely known for his outstanding work on the small screen, where he directed TV series like Mirza Ghalib and Tahreer Munshi Premchand Ki. He wrote lyrics for several Doordarshan serials, including Hello Zindagi, Potli Baba Ki and Jungle Book.

 

Gulzar left film direction to focus on his writing. He continues to be in great demand with modern filmmakers, thanks to his adaptability. 

His poetry has been published in three compilations: Chand Pukhraaj Ka, Raat Pashminey Ki and Pandrah Paanch Pachattar (15-05-75).