Gulzar will definitely strike the right chord with his great ghazals and shayari compositions but Sampooran Singh Kalra might not be a familiar name in poetry world.
StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-Sep 27, 2011 - This veteran lyricist, poet and director and the man who penned the Oscar winning track Jai Ho, was in Ahmedabad to recite his shayaris to Urdu poetry lovers. Hours prior to the shayari session, Gulzar got chatty and was at his wittiest best when Ahmedabad Times caught up with him. We asked him how he liked Ahmedabad. Gulzar flashed a warm smile and said, "This is not my first visit here. I've come to Ahmedabad several times and am well-versed with the city. I've even written poems about this city." Interestingly, Gulzar is also busy, "translating two Gujarati poetry books."
What is it like penning songs in present day Bollywood films? Pat comes the reply, "If we write a song like Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki today, will it make any sense? You neither have aangan nor tulsi in most urban homes. The transformation of lyrics was inevitable. Besides when I write lyrics for a film, I get all minute details on the storyline, location, character, situation and characters' lingo - keeping all that in mind, I pen the song. I can't stick to yesteryear language as it won't have any relevance in contemporary films." So what does he feel about the usage of abusive words in lyrics which are quite a rage now? "What's wrong with using abusive words in songs? Cinema reflects society. Films have not invented such cuss words, they're used in daily life by people anyway. Just because a film uses them in a song doesn't mean those films are to be blamed for the usage of cuss words," he says.
Gulzar's directed various critically claimed films like Parichay, Koshish, Aandhi, Ijaazat, Maachis and Hu Tu Tu. What's keeping him from direction? "I feel film-making is too time consuming process and will leave me no time to focus on writing poetry or lyrics. Plus, I have developed a new attraction for theatre, so I'd like to focus my attention there," says Gulzar. Does he miss the people he has worked with? "Oh yes! I miss all the actresses I have worked with and miss Sanjeev Kumar, Vinod Mehra and Shammi Kapoor," he says.
Gulzar's works talk about the common man. How does he feel the pulse of the middleclass so well? He says, "I might be a celebrity today, but at every point of my life, I have to deal with a common man. And, don't forget I come from a middleclass background too!"
On a parting note, we can't help asking about his fascination for the crisp, pristine white kurta pyjama that's become his signature attire? He smiles disarmingly, "White's the colour I love."
http://www.shayarism.com
