Gulzar: The wizard of words turns 78, here’s a pick of his top ten songs

 

 

Lyricist-filmmaker Gulzar, best known for penning memorable hits like Tujhse Naaraaz Nahi and Tere Bina Zindagi Se besides directing critically acclaimed films like Aandhi and Mausam turns 78-year-old today.

Gulzar started his career in 1956 and as a lyricist and got his first break in Bimal Roy’s Bandini and the song Mora Gora Ang Lai Le..., filmed on Nutan, became an instant hit.

He has worked with leading music directors like Sachin Dev Burman, Salil Chowdhury, Shankar Jaikishan, Hemant Kumar, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Madan Mohan, Rajesh Roshan, Anu Malik, and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.

Gulzar developed outstanding creative partnerships with Rahul Dev Burman, A R Rahman and Vishal Bhardwaj. Apart from lyrics, he has contributed to several films as script, story and dialogue writer.

He is widely known for his outstanding work on the small screen where he directed TV series like Mirza Ghalib and Tahreer Munshi Premchand Ki.

Gulzar was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2002, the Padma Bhushan in 2004. He has won a number of National Film Awards and 20 Filmfare Awards. Recently he also received Dadasaheb Phalke Award.He wrote lyrics for several Doordarshan serials including Hello Zindagi, Potli Baba Ki and Jungle Book which became very popular.

He won the Academy Award for best original song for ‘Jai Ho‘ with AR Rahman for ‘Slumdog Millionaire‘ in 2009.

In 2010, Gulzar also won the Grammy award for ‘Jai Ho‘. His poetry has been published in three compilations: ‘Chand Pukhraaj Ka‘, ‘Raat Pashminey Ki’ and ‘Pandrah Paanch Pachattar‘ (15-05-75). His short stories are published in ‘Raavi-Paar’ (also known as ‘Dustkhat’ in Pakistan) and ‘Dhuan’(smoke).

He is also credited with having created a new type of stanza in Urdu poetry named ‘Triveni‘ (stanza of 3 lines).

Gulzar is married to actress Raakhee. The couple have a daughter, Meghna. When their daughter was only one-year-old, they separated but never divorced.

On his birthday, here’s our pick of ten most memorable Gulzar songs:

1. Gora Ang Lai Le from Bandini

 

2. Tujhse Naraz Nahi from Aandhi

3. Do Deewaane Shehar Mein from Gharaonda

4. Naam Goom Jayega song from Kinara

5. Aye Zindagi Gale Laga Le from Sadma

6. Aane Wala Pal Jaane Wala Hai from Golmaal

7. Mera kuch saman tumhary pass perda hai from Ijaazat

8. Dil Hum Hum from Rudaali

9Chappa Chappa Charkha Chale from Maachis

10. Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire