To call Gulzar a human being would be to limit his personality. Gulzar is like the wind, which no boundaries can bind. It is impossible to become a buzzkill. When God does something, something buzzing comes into existence in centuries. Gulzar is that child of God, whom God has sent into the world by giving him his pen. Otherwise, it is difficult for any human being to create such hypnosis with words.
Gulzar was born on 18 August 1934 in Dina area of present-day Pakistan. When Gulzar regained consciousness, the partition of India was looking at him. The incident of partition was so terrible that Gulzar often woke up from sleep. He used to have scary dreams. Gulzar used to see those scenes in his sleep, when human bodies burnt alive were scraped out from the road and then loaded into a vehicle for their last rites. The impact of this pain and this horrific incident is clearly felt in Gulzar’s artistic expression. Gulzar was very fond of books. He used to read stories and poems fondly. In his father’s eyes this would have been a wasteful act. He always instructed Gulzar to stay away from poetry.
After partition, Gulzar, who came to India with his family after saving his life, wanted to study. But the financial crisis at home was not allowing this. Gulzar had to go to Mumbai to join his elder brother. Gulzar started working in a motor garage in Mumbai. Gulzar used to paint those vehicles which had accidents. In this work, Gulzar got time to study and write and his expenses were also covered. Gulzar was a part of Tarkki Pasand Tehreek. Gulzar was entering the world of literature by listening to Sardar Jafri, Krishna Chander, Rajendra Singh Bedi. His desire was to become a writer and write books. But his friend and great Hindi cinema lyricist Shailendra asked him to write film songs. Shailendra was writing the songs of Bimal Roy’s film Bandini but due to an argument with music composer Sachin Dev Burman, he left the film. Then he asked Gulzar to go to Bimal Roy. Gulzar went to Bimal Roy and wrote a song which proved that Gulzar is not an artist who talks about common and superficial things. Gulzar wrote “Mora Gora Ang Lai Le” and explained that in a society where people are crazy about fair complexion, the heroine is ready to sacrifice that fair complexion to meet her beloved.
Gulzar had a close relationship with Bimal Roy. Seeing Gulzar’s talent, Bimal Roy did not allow him to work in the motor garage. Bimal Roy hired Gulzar as his assistant. Tears welled up in Gulzar’s eyes due to his closeness to Bimal Roy. Gulzar worked in Bimal Roy’s films. Gulzar gave whatever support was possible in the making of the film, from improving the dialogues of the script. Bimal Roy was like a father to Gulzar. Gulzar served Bimal Roy till his last moments. When Gulzar came out of the struggle and was doing some good work, his father died. The family felt that Gulzar had taken steps towards his destination after enduring a lot of hardships. Therefore he did not inform Gulzar about his father’s death. By the time the father’s condolence message reached Gulzar through other means, his father’s funeral rites had been completed. The regret of not being able to serve his father and see him for the last time pricked Gulzar like a thorn in his heart. When Bimal Roy fell ill in the last days of his life, Gulzar served him like a son. On the death of Bimal Roy, Gulzar fulfilled his duties like a son. In this way the thorn stuck in Gulzar’s mind came out.
Gulzar wrote a lot of love in his songs. But one feels incomplete in these Gulzar songs. The loneliness of love is visible. In this context, Gulzar says that in songs he expresses his pain, his desolation, his lack. He doesn’t try to make anyone cry, rather he himself cries while writing songs. Gulzar held Rakhi’s hand when Rakhi was disappointed with her married life and was looking for a companion due to her loneliness. But this collaboration of Gulzar and Rakhi also did not last long. A flower named Meghna bloomed in Gulzar and Rakhi’s garden and after that both of them parted ways. Both of them never threw mud at each other. Even today both meet with love and openness. Gulzar remembers the fish made by Rakhi. Love for Bengal and Tagore takes him closer to Rakhi.
Gulzar had a great friendship with RD Burman. Both of them gifted excellent songs and music to Hindi cinema. There was an unmatched intimacy in the relationship between Gulzar and RD Burman. This is the reason why Gulzar asked RD Burman for his bhajan tune for the film Aandhi and wrote “Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi Shikwa To Nahi” on it. This song of Gulzar creates such a hug that one feels the desire to hug someone tightly.
While writing dialogues for films like Gulzar Anand advocates vivacity, he also shows his generous heart by writing the song “Tujhse Naraz Nahi Zindagi” for Masoom. When Gulzar creates “Koshish”, he tells that even today words cannot say what silence says. Gulzar presents an example of his sense of humor by making “Angoor”.
Gulzar has been greatly influenced by Ghalib. Ghalib and Bimal Roy are found everywhere in his personality. Whenever Gulzar writes something taking inspiration from Ghalib’s couplet, the happiness on his face cannot be hidden. Gulzar wanted to make a film on Ghalib. He also planned this with Sanjeev Kumar. But due to the untimely death of Sanjeev Kumar, a film on Ghalib was not made. When Indira Gandhi enriched Doordarshan, it reached every home across the country. Due to this, big producers and directors were attracted towards Doordarshan. Gulzar was one of them, who fulfilled his dream by making Ghalib TV serial with Naseeruddin Shah for Doordarshan. Gulzar considered himself a servant of Ghalib’s mansion.
Gulzar’s poetry is beyond time. It grows younger and deeper day by day. Gulzar still writes songs. His relationship with Vishal Bhardwaj seems to be the same as that between Bimal Roy and him. Nature always completes its cycle. As long as the hearts that understand and feel emotions continue to beat in this world, the fragrance of Gulzar’s poetry will continue to fill the air.
