Few in Indian cinema today can claim to be called a legend, as rightfully as Sampooran Singh Kalra aka Gulzar does. The 77-year-old Dada Saheb Phalke Award winner of this year, charmed one and all with his quick wit and mesmerising poetry during a recent visit to HT City.
From an 11-year-old who saw the painful partition of India to a 19-year-old garage mechanic in Mumbai, to receiving the highest honour in Indian cinema at 77.
Read:Gulzar receives Dada Saheb Phalke award
How would you describe the journey?
Ek maali ki zabaan mein kehta hoon: Hare patte bhi the, sha shabz thi shaadab thi tehni; tasalli tab huyi jab shaakh par ek phool aaya.What was your reaction at being told that you’ve won the Dada Saheb Phalke award. Who did you first share the news with?
Mujhe jis waqt is ki khabar mili, yakeen nahi aaya. Because a few days ago, I had read in the newspaper that Jeetendra (actor) was likely to win it. A friend called that my name has been proposed. I still didn’t believe it, till the secretary (I&B) called to officially inform me. Tab ek lambi saans li. I then called my daughter Bosky (filmmaker Meghna Gulzar) and told her. It was a lovely moment.
Is it true that you’ve been writing a book for your daughter on every birthday, since she was born?
I started this from her first birthday onwards, ek kitaab bachchon ke liye. We have a shortage of good children’s literature, and authors think ki bachchon ke liye likhna baayein haath ka khel hai. It is not easy, because you need to write in the language that the child speaks in. Main chhotey bachchon ke liye likhta hoon toh totli zabaan mein likhta hoon.
Is it true that you’ve been writing a book for your daughter on every birthday, since she was born?
I started this from her first birthday onwards, ek kitaab bachchon ke liye. We have a shortage of good children’s literature, and authors think ki bachchon ke liye likhna baayein haath ka khel hai. It is not easy, because you need to write in the language that the child speaks in. Main chhotey bachchon ke liye likhta hoon toh totli zabaan mein likhta hoon.
How have you managed to keep pace with the new generation?
You have to pace up with time. I don’t want to be looked down at, ki dekho purane buzurg baithe hai. I am happy that this generation has held my hand and taken me along, kyonki mujhe chhodd ke aap jaa nahi sakte. Aur yeh thodi si chaalaki bhi hai, woh sochte hai ki unhone mera haath pakda hua hai aur main jaanta hoon ki maine unka haath pakda hua hai. You have to change with the times. SMS aur Facebook ke zamaane mein dakiya daak laya nahi likh sakta, yeh mein jaanta hoon.
You are a Punjabi and we know Punjabis to be colourful people. Why did you switch over to a white kurta pyjama? Is the dress-code why you didn’t attend the Oscars as well?
Oscars mein nahi gaya kyunki kaala coat nahi tha (laughs). Zindagi ke sab rang jhad gaye, bas safed reh gaya. College ke zamaane se hi safed bhaa gaya tha. But, I don’t wear a kurta pyjama. I wear regular white trousers with a kurta. Bas abhi yehi libaas hai.
Your fans listen to your songs when they are sad. What does Gulzar listen to, when he is sad?
(laughs) Main koi Bunty aur Babli ka song ya lauta de mera ticket to Hollywood (Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, 2007) sunta hoon. Sad gaane nahi sunta.
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