By Surender Bhutani, EuAsiaNews,
Warsaw : After the release of Shahrukh Khan’s biography in Polish language last year, now the ghazals of Urdu poets of Bollywood have come out in the Polish market.
Janusz Krzyzowski, a famous Indologist and Surender Zahid, an Indian poet based here, have translated the ghazals of 18 famous Urdu poets who had written thousands of songs in their life time for Bollywood films.
“The ghazals have been translated in a ghazal form is unique experience. I am waiting for that day when someone in Poland will sing these ghazals accompanied by music,” said J.J. Singh, president of the Polish-Indian Chamber of Commerce, who financed the publication of the book.
The anthology includes the works of Sahir Ludhianavi, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Shakeel Badayuni, Jan Nissar Akhtar, Kaifi Azmi, Behzad Luckhnavi, Aarzoo Luckhnavi, Fayyaz Hashmi, Shamim Jaipuri and Khumar Barabankavi of the past eras.
It includes works of Gulzar, Javeed Akhtar, Nida Fazli and Ibrahim Ashk of the conetmporary period.
“The translators have done deep research to produce a first rate poetry book in Polish language at a time when the word Bollywood is becoming a common household name in Poland,” said Boguszslav Zakszewski a former Polish ambassador to Thailand and Brazil and a renowned translator.
” The book will be a boon for the Polish fans who crave for Bollywood films,” added Zakszewski.
” I am thrilled to find such a book in my language and I have invited the translators to come to Mumbai for its Indian release in March. I will request the living Bollywood poets to be present at the ceremony,” said Janusz Bylienski, Polish counsul-general in Mumbai.
Janusz Krzyzowski and Surender Zahid have translated the works of Mir Taqi Mir, Mirza Ghalib, Firaq Gorakhpuri and other famous poets of Urdu literature in the past four years into Polish.
Over the years Urdu poetry has made deep inroads in Polish literary circles.
“Our purpose to translate these poets for the Polish readers is to show how great these poets were in their literary output. The lyricists might have sometime worked as wordsmiths, but whenever they got a chance to show their talent they did not hesitate. Both Sahir and Majrooh were the great exponents of this art. In the past three decades, Gulzar and Javeed Akhtar have also maintained that tradition,” said Krzyzowski .