Gulzar: Celebrating the Poet of Many Colors

By Amit Kumar

On August 18, 1934, in the small town of Dina in British India (now in Pakistan), Sampooran Singh Kalra was born. The world would later come to know and cherish him by his pen name: Gulzar. Over the past nine decades, Gulzar has become much more than just a celebrated lyricist and film director—he is a voice of longing, love, and layered meaning, seamlessly weaving the mundane and the magical.

Gulzar’s start was anything but easy. The trauma of partition forced him to leave his homeland and settle in Mumbai, where he juggled various odd jobs—one of which was painting cars—to support his family. Little did anyone suspect that this young man, who once had a knack for mixing paint, would go on to blend words and emotions, coloring the world of Hindi and Urdu poetry in ways never imagined.

In the film world, Gulzar’s genius was first noticed in 1963 with the soulful “Mora Gora Ang Layle” in Bandini. Since then, he has become the poetry behind countless legendary tracks, collaborating with musical maestros like S.D. Burman, R.D. Burman, Vishal Bhardwaj, and A.R. Rahman. His words have graced songs that are now integral to the Indian psyche, from “Humne Dekhi Hai Un Aankhon KiMehekti Khushboo” to the Oscar-winning “Jai Ho.”

But Gulzar is not just a lyricist; he is a master raconteur, a director with a keen eye for the subtleties of human relationships. Films like Aandhi, Mausam, Koshish, and Ijaazat reveal his deep empathy and poetic storytelling, exploring social issues and personal dilemmas with a rare honesty.

At heart, Gulzar remains a poet. His verses—often rich with metaphors and unconventional imagery—explore moments of silence, nostalgia, and hope. He writes in Urdu, Punjabi, and other languages, often experimenting with the “Triveni” form, crafting heart-touching poetry collections and short stories.

Over the years, Gulzar has received every major literary and cinematic honor—from the PadmaBhushan to the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, an Academy and Grammy Award, and, most recently, the Jnanpith Award in 2024.

Today, as fans across continents celebrate Gulzar’s birthday, his words continue to inspire, comfort, and kindle dreams. With each poem, each song, he reminds us: life, like poetry, is best lived in its most honest and colorful expressions