Shakespeare would certainly have been smiling from heaven in 1982, when he would have seen what Gulzar Sir made out of his play, A Comedy Of Errors. A complete laugh-riot from start to finish, Angoor had us all in splits, for when you have one pair of Sanjeev Kumar and Deven Verma, things are always going to be good, but throw in an extra pair; and that would always result in sheer madness!
Angoor was a work very different from what Gulzar Sir had done in his career till then. There could be no better a start than working under none other than the great Bimal Roy. Gulzar was just about 25 then, and he was involved in penning down lyrics for Bandini. There could be no bigger a break, for not only did the film turn out into such a huge classic, the songs too remain in people's hearts forever. Gulzaar then went on to work for Bimalda's assistants, and what a memorable output was produced! Gulzaar not only wrote the lyrics, but was also involved in writing the screenplay and dialogues for films like Anand, Guddi, Khamoshi, Shagird and Aashirwad. Each film, one better than the other; timeless classics - movies that can never be remade; or bettered.
At the same time, Gulzaar, who had already proved his mettle with lyrics, story and dialogues, also wanted to try his hand at direction. And right from his first film, we knew things could only get better. Mere Apne is perhaps the best 'gang-war' film ever made. The character written for Meena Kumari converted a good film to a great one! His next film is quite possibly the best depiction of deaf-and-mute people, Koshish, that then established a long relationship between Sanjeev Kumar and Gulzar. Gulzar followed up with other gems like Parichay and Achanak; yet again, he left us with tear-filled eyes. The relationship between Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Gulzar never deteriorated even though Gulzar himself took to film direction, as he continued to write some priceless gems for Hrishikesh in the form of Namak Haram, Bawarchi, Chupke Chupke and continued with lyrics for Golmaal.
Gulzar went on to work with his usual actors, albeit in deglamourised roles in films like Khushboo and Kinara and saved his best for his favourite. Sanjeev Kumar will forever be remembered for Aandhi and Mausam, and the films will go down as yet again, some of the best ever!
Gulzar kept pleasing both the critics and the audience in films that followed like Meera, Faraar, Khoobsurat, Namkeen, Baseraa, Sadma, New Delhi Times, Masoom, Ijaazat, Mirza Ghalib, Lekin and Rudaali.
Now mind you, these are not just any ordinary films. They are all masterpieces and sheer poetry on celluloid. Not just the films, but the music and lyrics too was outstanding.
In recent years however, Gulzar is still wowing audiences with lyrics like Beedi Jalaaile, Kajra Re, Dhan Te Tan, Jai Ho and Tu Hi Meri Dost Hai. While they are probably the best in today's times, I just wonder where has the Gulzar of Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi, Mere To Giridhar Gopal, Musaafir Hoon Yaaron, Mera Kuch Saamaan, Koi Hota Jisko Apna and Aanewala Pal gone.
Gulzar sir, you have even gifted India one of it's few "nursery rhymes", so to say, with Lakdi Ki Kaati, Kaate Pe Ghoda. When you dared to adapt The Sound Of Music in Hindi (as Parichay), you also did the impossible - pay tribute to Do A Deer in total Bollywood style, with Sa Re Ke Saare Ga Ma Ko Lekar Gaate Chalein, and make a song that is no less in quality or spirit than the original.
For someone who is writing for films like Saathiya and Dus Kahaaniyan, I ask where has the writer of Anand, Bawarchi and Khamoshi gone? For someone who is making some very good movies like Rudaali and Maachis, I ask where has the maker of truly great, evergreen films like Mere Apne, Achanak, Parichay and Aandhi gone?
I beg this extremely gifted artist to go back to his old ways and start making films again. Please Gulzar Sir, give us one more masterpiece to remember!
I think anyone who has followed Gulzar's works over the years, will realize he's capable of much more than what he's doing right now.
Dear Sir, please take your own time, but come back with one more gem. Please make us laugh so hard like we've laughed so only in your films. Please make us cry so much that we've cried so only in your films.
Please sir, one last masterpiece ... that's all we ask of you.
Monday, December 7, 2009
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2 comments:
well the maker of those timeless classics 've not gone anywhere.. he's very much here.. may be into his sabbatical.. we can sense his prsence in all those Vishal Bharadwaz infused cinematic shadows.. he is very much letting his aura dictate terms in recent times in movies coming out of this very brigade!
However referring to some of his quintessential works lately, one song should always hold its entry, perhaps at the top: "Ash Tray from No Somking!" this is at par with the same abstruseness/masterwork the movie itself dwells on..
Oh yeah that totally slipped my mind. Amazing song no doubt. It's fascinating how Gulzar has moved with the times.
I certainly have no complaints about that song; that just could not have been any better.
Perhaps there's nothing wrong with Gulzar now - after all, lyrics also depend on the song situation in the movie. Perhaps it's a problem with the movies of today; just knowing that Gulzar is a part of crappy movies like Bunty Aur Bubly is pretty disappointing for someone who's admired him for so long. I'm sure that must be the case with you also.
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