Gulzar

Gulzar, born as Sampooran Singh Kalra on 18 August 1934 in Dina, Punjab (now in Pakistan), is one of India’s most celebrated lyricists, Urdu poets, authors, screenwriters, and film directors. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Urdu poets and Hindi film lyricists of his generation, known for his deeply poetic style that blends emotion, philosophy, and everyday life with simplicity and depth. Gulzar began his journey in Hindi cinema as a lyricist with the film Bandini (1963), collaborating with legendary music director S. D. Burman, and soon became a defining voice in Indian film music.

Beyond songwriting, Gulzar has made remarkable contributions to Indian literature and cinema as a writer and filmmaker, creating acclaimed scripts, dialogues, poems, books, films, and television works. Over the decades, his work has earned him numerous prestigious honours, including multiple National Film Awards, Filmfare Awards, the Padma Bhushan, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, an Academy Award (Oscar), a Grammy Award, and India’s highest literary honour, the Jnanpith Award in 2024. His timeless writing and artistic vision continue to leave an unmatched impact on Indian arts and culture.