Gulzar: Poetry as Shelter in Chaos

At 92, celebrated poet Gulzar, born Sampooran Singh Kalra, continues his daily writing routine, a practice he has maintained since his youth. Arriving in Mumbai in the 1950s as a teenager, he spent six decades weaving a significant body of work in Indian literature and cinema. His early life in Dina, now Pakistan, and displacement due to the 1947 Partition profoundly shaped his perspective, leading him to describe writing as his primary shelter.

Gulzar's artistic journey began with a childhood immersed in books and poetry, influenced by Tagore and a dedicated literature teacher. He adopted the pen name 'Gulzar' during his formative years. His transition into filmmaking began serendipitously when a friend introduced him to director Bimal Roy, leading to his first song for 'Bandini' (1963). He has since contributed extensively to lyric writing, screenwriting, and directing.

Throughout his career, Gulzar has been drawn to complex female characters, exploring their inner lives in films like 'Aandhi' and 'Ijaazat'. His recent creative partnership with filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj has revitalized his songwriting. Gulzar's work consistently reflects social consciousness, emphasizing that a writer's responsibility extends beyond personal experience to encompass societal issues, much like the enduring relevance of Premchand and Faiz's writings.