‘Actually... I met them’ is about the icons who inspired Gulzar

“I HAVE to pinch myself on realising that ‘Actually ... I met them’,” says the Renaissance Man of Indian cinema about his interactions with ‘great gurus and colleagues’ from the film industry. Writer, poet, filmmaker, lyricist Gulzar (87), in a career spanning over six decades, has worked with some of the iconic names, as reflected in his memoir.

Packed with 18 word-portraits, it is a compilation of columns by Bengali journalist Sanchari Mukherjee. Initially published as ‘Panta Bhate’, it has now been translated into English by Maharghya Chakraborty. From Bimal Roy to Satyajit Ray, RD Burman, Ritwik Ghatak, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Mahasweta Devi, his ascent towards excellence comes from working with icons of Indian cinema, music and literature.

The memoir not only articulates his love for his mentors and friends, but has some interesting anecdotes as well as front-row accounts of their foibles. Bimalda’s obsession for detail, Salilda’s fondness for carrom over work, Hemanta Kumar’s habit of smoking while recording his songs. Gulzar also writes about his generosity and encouragement — the singer-composer not only made the down payment of his first house but also supported him when critics questioned the incongruent metaphors in “Humne dekhi hai in aankhon ki mehekati khushboo...” “Perhaps it’s solely due to his encouragement that the word ‘Gulzarish’ exists,” writes the lyricist.

He recollects how the ‘mad genius’ Kishoreda was the original choice for ‘Anand’, but a few days before the shoot, he went completely bald, perhaps to annoy director Hrishikesh Mukherjee, who was another odd soul addicted to chess and ordering tea for his pet dogs. Gulzar also shares his ‘lifetime regret’ of not being able to work with Ray despite three chances.

A slim volume, the memoir has pithy sketches of the people he loved and admired and who made him what he is. It leaves you hankering for more — perhaps a sequel where we get to read more about the women in his life: Meena Kumari and Rakhee.