Poet, storyteller, director, scriptwriter and lyricist, Gulzar is a towering figure of

contemporary Indian literature and cinema. Ever since he wrote his first song—the

unforgettable ‘Mora gora ang lai le’ for Bimal Roy’s Bandini (1963)—he has won

countless admirers with his nuanced, sensitive and quietly innovative work. From the

endearing ‘Lakdi ki kaathi’, that a generation grew up singing, to the Oscar-winning ‘Jai

ho’—his songs have enthralled millions. His unique and much acclaimed contribution

to the world of poetry continues to reflect our changing times, with fresh idiom and

delicate turn of phrase.

In this book of conversations with Nasreen Munni Kabir, Gulzar speaks with insight,

candour and gentle humour about his life and work: his school days in Old Delhi,

where he wrote his early poems; working in a garage in Mumbai before entering

films; his association with legends such as Bimal Roy, Balraj Sahni, Sahir Ludhianvi,

Meena Kumari, Shailendra, S. D. Burman, Hemant Kumar, Hrishikesh Mukherjee,

Lata Mangeshkar and R. D. Burman among others; his love of tennis; and his deep

connection with his wife, the legendary Raakhee, his daughter Meghna and his

grandson Samay.