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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Protests against Khamenei's killing: Curbs remain in force in Kashmir
Srinagar (PTI): Strict restrictions remained imposed in many areas of Kashmir for the third consecutive day on Wednesday following massive protests across the valley against the killing of Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, officials said.
As a precautionary measure, the government shut educational institutions till Saturday, while mobile internet speed continued to remain throttled.
"Restrictions on the movement and assembly of the people continued in many parts of Kashmir on Wednesday," the officials said.
They said strict restrictions were being enforced especially in the parts having large Shia population and those areas which have witnessed massive protests over the last three days.
A large number of police and paramilitary CRPF personnel were deployed across the city to prevent gatherings of protestors, the officials said.
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They added that concertina wires and barricades were placed at important intersections leading into the city, while asserting that these were precautionary measures imposed to maintain law and order.
The iconic Ghanta Ghar in the city centre of Lal Chowk here continued to remain a no-go zone after the authorities sealed area with barricades erected all around it on late Sunday night.
The move to seal the Ghanta Ghar came after it witnessed massive protests on Sunday after Khamenei's assassination in the joint air strikes by the US and Israel.
This is the first time since August 2019 that protests on such a large scale have taken place in Kashmir.
The government had first ordered the closure of schools, colleges and universities for two days. However, on Tuesday it decided to close the educational institutions till Saturday as a precautionary measure in view of the protests.
Mobile internet speeds continued to remain throttled while some prepaid mobile connections were also barred, the officials added.
On Tuesday, protests rocked several places in the valley, including Sumbal and Pattan areas of North Kashmir.
In Sumbal of Bandipora district, security forces had to resort to force to disperse the demonstrators.
Some media outlets and individuals, including National Conference Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, and former Srinagar mayor Junaid Azim Mattu, faced police heat for allegedly circulating misleading information.
A case was filed against Mehdi and Mattu under BNS sections 197(1)(d) and 353(1)(b) at Cyber Police Station, Srinagar, for allegedly circulating "false, fabricated and misleading content" on digital and social media platforms.
"The content in question, prima facie, reflects the dissemination of distorted narratives and unverified information capable of causing public unrest and societal disharmony. Such deliberate attempts to spread misinformation pose a serious threat to peace, security, and overall stability," the police said in a statement.
Both have been condemning the killing of Khameinei and the attacks by the US and Israel on Iran.
However, hours after the registration of the case, Mehdi, an influential Shia leader, said he would not be deterred from speaking the truth.
"The people of Srinagar did not elect their MP to recite government-approved condolences. They elected him to speak truth. That mandate does not expire with an FIR," he said in a post on X.
Police has issued an appeal to people to refrain from violence and provocation.
"We appeal to all sections of the society to exercise restraint and refrain from violence and provocation," it said.
Police said they will take strict legal action against instigators of violence and those involved in unlawful activities.
On Tuesday, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha directed officials to be on high alert and chaired a meeting of top officials of the police and army here.
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"Chaired a meeting of senior police & civil administration officials at the Police Control Room, Kashmir, to review the law and order situation. Directed the officers to remain on heightened alert and take all necessary measures to ensure public peace and tranquillity," Sinha said on X.
He appealed to the people and community leaders to maintain peace.
"I also appeal to the citizens and community leaders to uphold harmony and contribute to an atmosphere of calm and goodwill in society. Preserving peace and sustaining the progress of society is a shared responsibility that rests equally upon each one of us," he said.
