Poetry was my lifeline all along: Gulzar

By IANS,

New Delhi: He is equally known for his directorial ventures as he is praised for his poems and lyrics but lyricist-director Gulzar says he cut down on wielding the megaphone due to his love for poetry and books.


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“Poetry was my lifeline all along. Literature and poetry are my passion and it’s something that I have always liked. I am glad I am into books again. I couldn’t do that while I was making films,” Gulzar told reporters here, after he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the opening ceremony of the 11th edition of the annual Osian’s-Cinefan Film Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema here Saturday evening.

“There was no reason I quit or mellowed down on direction. I just wanted to write a lot of books. Filmmaking is a 24-hour occupation and it keeps you mentally occupied till the film doesn’t get over. I wanted to write for children. I am still writing books for them and maintaining my rapport with them. Films didn’t give me that time,” he said.

Gulzar has directed critically-accalimed films like “Parichay”, “Aandhi”, “Mausam”, “Ijazaat”, “Libaas”, “Lekin…” and “Maachis” to name a few since 1971 but cut down action on the director’s front after dud “Hu Tu Tu” in 1999.

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