Evergreen, contemporary and sensitive: The importance of being Gulzar
Mumbai: Lyricist-writer-filmmaker Gulzar, who turned 86 on Tuesday, is contemporary and relevant across generations with his ability to transform mundane into magical with a simple turn of phrase, say lyricists.
Gulzar has been a part of the cultural consciousness of the country through his nazms, ghazals, lyrics and films in a career spanning almost seven decades.
Born as Sampooran Singh Kalra in Dina, Pakistan, the wordsmith started his journey as a lyricist with Bimal Roy's "Bandini" in 1963.
According to lyricists Swanand Kirkire and Kausar Munir, Gulzar has the ability to walk with times be it through his poems, songs or films such as "Aandhi", "Angoor", "Mausam" and Ijaazat".
Kirkire, a multi-hyphenate personality himself, said he has always been in awe of the Oscar-winning lyricist's metaphors.
"He is a hero, inspiration and teacher. One always wanted to be like Gulzar sahab. I was introduced to Hindi film music through his songs. Every time I heard his lyrics, I felt he had such a different voice. He says things in a modern, day-to-day way without any heavy duty poetry," the lyricist-singer-actor told PTI.
Kirkire said growing up, he always wondered about the beautiful, sensitive lens with which Gulazar viewed love and life.
"His images, his metaphors are so young and they continue to remain so. You don't hear words like 'chavvani- atthani' in a film song. When I'd listen to his songs as a kid, I would wonder how he's looking at romance, life with a beautiful lens. He's such a sensitive poet and human being. An exceptional writer and a gifted director... He is so much and beyond," said Kirkire.
To celebrate his hero's birthday, Kirkire wrote a poem: 'Naya kal tha, naya ab hai. Naya rahega baras hazaar, yaar Gulzar, pyaar Gulzar.' He will always remain new'.
Lyricist Kausar Munir said growing up, she marvelled at Gulzar's ability to convey complex emotions with a feather-light touch.
"Everyone knows water is wet. But when you state it like 'geela geela paani', for a person like me, it means something because the prosaic becomes poetic. The Ijaazat songs are celebrated today even by those who are not poetically minded because the movie takes the mundane, everyday imagery and elevates it into something magical," Munir told PTI.
"He wears his literary-ness and greatness so lightly, in his work and his personality. It's reflected in his white kurta pajama and in his 'mera kuch samaan.' He has not lost touch with the times. He is young as the times he lives in. That's why he is always contemporary," said the lyricist, known for her work in "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" and "Meri Pyaari Bindu".
Sharing an anecdote about the lyricist-filmmaker's modern attitude, Kirkire shared a story about Gulzar when they adapted his film "Angoor" for a play.
"I was rehearsing with Zeeshan Ayyub and one day Gulzar sahab told us that everything is perfect but why don't you add one line in a scene where a character asks 'kya ho raha hai?' and add, 'Fog ho raha hai.' "We didn't realise what he was talking about but included that line. The laughter we got from the audience made us realize later that it came from a viral deodorant advertisement! We weren't aware but the audience was and Gulzar sahab was," he added.
Munir quotes "Kajrare" lines Aankhein bhi kamal karti hai, personal se sawal karti hai' in "Bunty Aur Babli", to emphasise how Gulzar brings "character, class and dignity" to the song with a turn of phrase and elevates the "so-called Bollywood item number into a work of social change".
Gulzar's daughter, filmmaker Meghna Gulzar also shared a poem about her father to celebrate his birthday.
"I know I'm protected/ Because his arms cradle me/ I know I walk the right path Because his little finger leads me I know I am/Because he is," she wrote on Instagram.
Social media was full of people sharing their favourite lines from Gulzar's vast collection of poems, making the lyricist's name a trending word on Twitter on his birthday.
Cricketer Yuvraj Singh shared his favourite lines of Gulzar to wish the poet on his birthday.
"Wishing one of the finest poet, lyricists and writers Gulzar saab a happy birthday. You have the ability to transform mere words into deep expressions and strike a chord in our hearts. My best wishes," he wrote.
Actor Urmila Matondakar quoted Gulzar's song Aane wala pal, Jaane wala hai' from "Golmaal" to wish him.
"Simply said most valued philosophy of life Happy birthday Gulzar saab," she wrote on Twitter.
Composer Shankar Mahadevan, who worked with Gulzar in 'Mirzya', 'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom', 'Raazi', this year's 'Chhapaak', tweeted, "No amount of words can describe how much I love you sir! Happiest Birthday and looking forward to meeting you soooooooon! Actor Saiyami Kher, who made her debut with "Mirzya", tweeted,"Thankyou for your words, support, warmth & purity. Happy birthday Gulzar saab."
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BJP dreaming to win polls with money power: West Bengal BJP MLA after bypoll loss
Kolkata, Nov 23: As the ruling Trinamool Congress swept the by-elections in six assembly seats in West Bengal, Kurseong's party MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma attacked the state leadership, saying the party dreams of winning polls with money power and that it sidelines legislators and gives "unnecessary importance and responsibilities" to MPs.
The TMC retained five of the six seats it had previously won during the 2021 polls, while wresting the key Madarihat seat from the saffron camp in north Bengal’s Alipurduar district.
In a Facebook post, Sharma alleged, "The BJP runs a membership drive in West Bengal over the phone from a Kolkata office, while party leaders turn a blind eye to factionalism within the party. The party sidelines MLAs and gives unnecessary importance and responsibilities to MPs. It dreams of winning elections relying on money power. Despite having no shortage of political issues in the state, it centers its politics solely around religion."
"The BJP accuses opponents of corruption while carrying Adani and Ambani on its shoulders. It tries to undermine the rights of the indigenous population by luring Bangladeshi Hindus with promises of CAA. It halts MGNREGA funds and indulges in such tactics, hoping to win elections in the state," he alleged.
On the other hand, the BJP MLA lauded TMC saying, that the ruling party in the state, armed with 26 different "pro-poor schemes" such as Kanyashree Prakalpa, Gitanjali Housing Scheme, Krishak Bandhu Scheme, Nijo Griha Nijo Bhumi, Rupashree Prakalpa, Shishu Sathi Scheme, and Student Credit Card, quietly works at the grassroots level.
"Now, you decide who will win the elections. I have never seen a culture of self-criticism within the BJP; otherwise, this outcome wouldn't have occurred," he added.
Since the 2021 assembly elections, the TMC has won every by-election, except the Sagardighi bypoll in March 2023, which was won by a Congress candidate who later switched to the TMC.
With this victory, TMC's tally in the 294-member state assembly rose to 216, further consolidating its position. The BJP's tally, on the other hand, dropped to 69, from 77 in 2021.
