Gulzar

Gulzar
Name	Gulzar
Birth name	Sampooran Singh Kalra
Birth date	18 September 1934
Birth place	Dina, British India (now Pakistan)
Occupation	Poet, lyricist, film director, screenwriter, author
Years active	1957–present

Gulzar Gulzar is an Indian poet, lyricist, film director, and screenwriter known for work in Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi literature and cinema. He has written lyrics for songs in Indian films and directed feature films, television series, and documentaries, collaborating with prominent figures in Bollywood, parallel cinema, and regional theatre. His career spans partnerships with music composers, actors, producers, and publishing houses across the Indian subcontinent and international festivals.

Early life and education

Born Sampooran Singh Kalra in Dina, Punjab, British India (now in Pakistan), he experienced the upheaval of the Partition of India which displaced millions and influenced contemporaries such as Saadat Hasan Manto and Khushwant Singh. After migrating to Delhi and then to Bombay (now Mumbai), he attended local schools and was influenced by literary movements associated with figures like Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Sahir Ludhianvi, and Mirza Ghalib. Early exposure to the families of film technicians and the milieu of studios such as Filmistan and Raj Kapoor's R.K. Studios shaped his entry into the film industry with mentors including Guru Dutt and associates such as S D Burman and Salil Chowdhury.

Literary career and poetry

Gulzar's poetry and prose have appeared in collections published by houses like Rajkamal Prakashan and featured in journals alongside poets such as Agyeya, Javed Akhtar, and Kaifi Azmi. His work draws on ghazal and nazm traditions from Urdu literature and couplets reminiscent of Mir Taqi Mir and Allama Iqbal, while engaging themes explored by Bhisham Sahni and Amrita Pritam. Translators and editors from institutions such as Oxford University Press, Penguin Books India, and HarperCollins have anthologized his poems with introductions referencing critics like Harish Trivedi and A. K. Ramanujan. His collaborations with visual artists and calligraphers have led to illustrated volumes shown at venues including the Prithvi Theatre and the Sahitya Akademi events.

Film career (lyrics, direction and screenwriting)

He began writing lyrics for films during the era of composers like R.D. Burman, Laxmikant–Pyarelal, and Khayyam, contributing songs recorded by playback singers such as Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, and Asha Bhosle. As a screenwriter and director he made films influenced by movements including Parallel Cinema and auteurs like Satyajit Ray and Mrinal Sen, directing works that starred actors such as Amitabh Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, and Naseeruddin Shah. His films competed at festivals including the Cannes Film Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival, and won awards presented by bodies such as the Filmfare Awards, National Film Awards (India), and international juries connected to the Locarno Festival. Collaborations with cinematographers, editors, and composers created songs performed on platforms like Doordarshan and featured in compilations curated by broadcasters such as BBC and All India Radio.

Acting and television work

He appeared on-screen and lent voice to projects produced by studios including Yash Raj Films, NFDC, and television channels like Doordarshan and Zee TV, participating in adaptations of literary works by authors such as Saadat Hasan Manto, Ismat Chughtai, and Munshi Premchand. His television direction and writing engaged actors who worked in serials produced by companies like Balaji Telefilms and Sphereorigins, and he collaborated with directors and showrunners from theatre and film circuits including Naseeruddin Shah's troupe and Ebrahim Alkazi's institutions. His presence at panels for organizations such as the National School of Drama and appearances at festivals like the Jaipur Literature Festival brought together poets, filmmakers, and cultural critics including Anupam Kher and Shyam Benegal.

Awards and honours

He has received major awards including the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri conferred by the Government of India, the Sahitya Akademi Award pitched by the Sahitya Akademi, and international recognition such as the Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Original Song in partnership with musicians and lyricists who have worked across industries like Hollywood and Bollywood. His accolades include multiple National Film Awards (India) for Best Lyrics and Best Screenplay, Filmfare Awards for Best Lyricist, and lifetime achievement recognitions from institutions such as the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne and the Royal Society of Literature. Cultural bodies including the British Council, UNESCO, and the Asia Pacific Screen Awards have invited him to serve on juries and deliver addresses.

Personal life and legacy

Married into a family connected to the film and literary worlds, his familial relationships intersect with artists and musicians associated with studios like Bombay Talkies and publishing circles including Roli Books. His daughter and collaborators have continued work in cinema, television, and writing alongside contemporaries such as Javed Akhtar and Vikram Seth. His legacy is preserved in archives of institutions like the National Film Archive of India, the Sahitya Akademi, and university curricula at Jawaharlal Nehru University and University of Mumbai, while retrospectives at venues including the National Centre for the Performing Arts and film festivals honor his contributions to South Asian arts and letters.

Category:Indian poets Category:Indian lyricists Category:Indian film directors Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan