Born in a Kalra Sikh family, on 18 August, 1934, Sampooran Singh Kalra, known professionally as Gulzar is an indian lyricist, poet, author, screenwriter, and film director. He has credited the works of Tagore, which he read in school as one of his life’s many turning points. Due to the partition of India and Pakistan, his family split and he had to stop studying and come to Mumbai to support his family. He took up small jobs including one at a mechanic shop. Here he used to touch up damaged cars by mixing shades of paint saying in an interview that he enjoyed his work as a painter as it allowed him a lot of time to simultaneously read, write, attend college, and be involved with the PWA (Progressive Writers Association). His career officially began when during his interactions with the PWA Sunday meetings the Shailendra and Bimal Roy encouraged him to join films. Gulzar then began his career under the film directors Bimal Roy and Hrishikesh Mukherjee. His book Ravi Pyaar has a narrative of Bimal Roy and the agony of creation. After that, he went on to start his career as a songwriter with the music director Sachin Dev Burman for the movie Bandini. In films, he found an environment associated with literature in the group he worked with, including Bimal Roy, most of whose films were based on literary works. Later on, the 1968 film Aashirwad by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, had dialogues and lyrics written by Gulzar. Song lyrics and poems written by Gulzar gave the poetic attribute to Ashok Kumar’s role. Ashok Kumar went on to receive the Best Actor at the Filmfare and at the National Film Awards for this role however, Gulzar’s lyrics did not gain much attention. That is until the 1969 film Khamoshi where his song “Humne Dekhi Hai Un Aankhon Ki Mehakti Khushboo” became popular. Then for the 1971 film Guddi, he wrote two songs of which “Humko Man Ki Shakti Dena” became a prayer which is still sung in many schools in India. As a lyricist, Gulzar had a close association with the music director Rahil Dev Burman. He has also worked with Sachin Dev Burman, Shankar Jaikishan, Hemant Kumar, Laxmikant Pyarelal, Madan Mohan, Rajesh Roshan, etc. he has written songs for film such as Mere Apne, Anand, Mausam, Omkara, Slumdog Millionaire, Raavan, Bunti Aur Babli, etc.
The CHDS – Radio Dil Se team would like to invite you to listen to our Gulzar daily special today from 10 am – 11 am and 5 pm – 6 pm EST.
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