Gulzar sahab turns 80 today. Apart from from many others, that's hell of a good reason to write something.
We live in a generation where you listening to classical music raises some skeptic eyebrows (filled with an utterly useless contempt), as if I confess being a cannibal. We live in times where lyrics of the song hardly matters, lest the music. So the sound of few instruments clashing over each other, becomes the 'Trendy music'.
That's why "दिलबरा दिलबरा, अपुन कि तू अपुन तेरा" becomes a song and "सारी दुनिया पितल दि, बेबी डॉल मै सोने दि" becomes a super hit one.What always strikes me in that music (or whatever it is), is the complete absence of meaning in the lyrics (or whatever they are).
Though there are few glorious exceptions like Piyush Mishra and Swanand Kirkire.
Gulzaar sahab is such a marvel, more so when looked from our generation.
Every artist belongs to a generation.
For Gulzaar sahab, the belonging began long ago and continues even today.
He transcends not the highest level of emotions, but the barrier of ages as well.
So he can write
His transcendence goes on. Thus he also writes
Its so hard to believe that a 'Dadaji' like figure can write something like,
He enriches us. Enlightens us. Shows what he has seen and what all there is to be seen.
Whatever I've read so far, Gulzar sahab comes closest to Saint Dnyaneshwar's idea of "इये ह्रदयीचे तिये हृदयी"..
I am not an authority to comment upon his works. 'वो हमारी औकाद नहीं'.
I am just a simple person, whom Gulzar sahab taught to Listen, when all I was able to do, was to Hear.
One I am thankfully aware of, is the excellent documentaries he has produced. From Bhimsen Joshi to Amjad Ali Khan, they are truly awesome.
Its such an honour to be living when he lives amongst us.
Gulzar sahab, thank you so much for enriching our lives. May you live 100 years more and still be as young as you were and as you always are.
आप को आपहीकी नज्म से सलाम...
We live in a generation where you listening to classical music raises some skeptic eyebrows (filled with an utterly useless contempt), as if I confess being a cannibal. We live in times where lyrics of the song hardly matters, lest the music. So the sound of few instruments clashing over each other, becomes the 'Trendy music'.
That's why "दिलबरा दिलबरा, अपुन कि तू अपुन तेरा" becomes a song and "सारी दुनिया पितल दि, बेबी डॉल मै सोने दि" becomes a super hit one.What always strikes me in that music (or whatever it is), is the complete absence of meaning in the lyrics (or whatever they are).
Though there are few glorious exceptions like Piyush Mishra and Swanand Kirkire. Gulzaar sahab is such a marvel, more so when looked from our generation.
Every artist belongs to a generation.
For Gulzaar sahab, the belonging began long ago and continues even today.
He transcends not the highest level of emotions, but the barrier of ages as well.
So he can write
"भोले भाले, भोले भाले दिल को बहलाते रहे
तनहाई में तेरे ख़यालों को सजाते रहे
कभी कभी तो आवाज देकर मुझको जगाया ख़्वाबों ने"
The sheer realization of the meaning brings a genuine smile. His transcendence goes on. Thus he also writes
"मेरा चैन वैन सब उजड़ा,ज़ालिम नज़र हटा ले
बर्बाद हो रहे है जी,तेरे अपने शहर वाले
हो.,मेरी अंगड़ाई ना टूटे तू आजा
कजरा रे कजरा रे तेरे कारे कारे नैना.."
Its so hard to believe that a 'Dadaji' like figure can write something like,
"जंगल जंगल बात चली है पता चला है
अरे चड्डी पेहन के फूल खिला है"
Yes. Embrace that smile wholeheartedly. That's what Gulzar sahab is all about. He enriches us. Enlightens us. Shows what he has seen and what all there is to be seen.
Whatever I've read so far, Gulzar sahab comes closest to Saint Dnyaneshwar's idea of "इये ह्रदयीचे तिये हृदयी"..
I am not an authority to comment upon his works. 'वो हमारी औकाद नहीं'.
I am just a simple person, whom Gulzar sahab taught to Listen, when all I was able to do, was to Hear.
"वैसे तो जुबां में अल्फ़ाज़ों की कमी नहीं थी
आपने उन्हें मक़सद दिया
बातें तो हम फिर भी करते थे
आपने उसका मतलब समज़ा दिया"
[The amateur words will make you understand that I wrote them!!]
There are so many facets of him we (at least I) don't know. One I am thankfully aware of, is the excellent documentaries he has produced. From Bhimsen Joshi to Amjad Ali Khan, they are truly awesome.
Its such an honour to be living when he lives amongst us.
Gulzar sahab, thank you so much for enriching our lives. May you live 100 years more and still be as young as you were and as you always are.
आप को आपहीकी नज्म से सलाम...
"जी में आता है
तेरे दामन में सर छुपा के हम
रोते रहें, रोते रहें
तेरी भी आँखों में
आंसुओं की नमी तो नहीं"
