Mumbai: With Jai Ho scripting history at the oscars, lyricist Gulzar has inked yet another laurel to his name with . As the song echoes everywhere - from LA's Kodak theatre where the Oscar awards ceremony was being held - to the slums of Mumbai, Gulzar is quietly humbled by the recognition.
"I couldn't believe that a Hindi lyricist could actually get it," he said. And he doesn't shy away from sharing the credit.
"It's Rahman's composition and Sukhwinder Singh who sang Jai Ho," he adds.
Gulzar was born as Sampooran Singh Kalra in 1936. Gulzar became his pen name as he began his career as an assistant to maestros like Bimal Roy and Hrishikesh Mukherjee. The big break came with Bimal Roy's Bandini and the haunting melody of Mora Gora Rang Le Le.
Gulzar's lyrics were a mirror to the simplicity and the innocence of the Indian middle class. His songs in Anand, Guddi and Khamoshi are unforgettable.
Gulzar's lyrics went from the middle class to mainstream when he worked with R D Burman to give chartbusters like Yaadon Ki Baarat, Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin. And then came a magical partnerhip with Mani Ratnam and A R Rahman.
"My favourite still is Dil Se and Ae Ajnabee," says he.
Gulzar also wielded the megaphone as he turned director with Mere Apne. His film Aandhi was an oblique critique of Indian polity. Parichay, Angoor and Mausam followed.
With Maachis he tried to understand the militancy in Punjab, but his heart seemed to rest with words.
And today Gulzar's pen seems to get just younger and flirt with lyrics with Kajrare in Bunty Aur Babli and Beedi Jalai Le in Omkara.
It's this versatility and the sheer genius that have won Gulzar as many as nineteen Filmfare trophies, five national awards and a Padma Bhushan for his contribution to Indian cinema - and now of course the coveted Oscar.
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