Happy Birthday, Gulzar: Celebrating the Genius and His Cocktails of Words

Every time when Gulzar puts pen to paper, it is bound to spring forth 'poetry'.

The man of golden words, an artiste, a friend, a father - the legend, Gulzar.

(Photo: The Quint/Kamran Akhtar)

From penning down songs and dialogues to directing films and even ads, Gulzar is a true artiste. Every time when he puts pen to paper, it is bound to spring forth 'poetry'.

Raat bhar sard hawa chalti rahi

Raat bhar hamne alaav taapa

Maine maazi se kai khushk si shaakhein kaati'n

Tum ne bhi guzre hue lamhone ke patte tode

- Gulzar (Poem: Alaav)

Born Sampoorn Singh Kalra on 18 August 1934 in the Jhelum district of Punjab in Pakistan, Gulzar and his family migrated to India after the country's Partition in 1947. He was fond of writing since childhood but his father Makhan Singh Kalra always protested, saying that if he becomes a poet, then he might have to live off his brothers for the rest of his life.

But despite his father's opposition, he went on to become what he was destined to be – Gulzar.

From coming to India from Pakistan after Partition, and picking up the paintbrush while working in a garage before becoming a poet – listen to the story of Gulzar in this special episode of Urdunama.

Tune in!

(This podcast was first published on 18 August 2020. It has been republished from The Quint's archives to mark Gulzar’s birthday.)