"Actually … I Met Them" - A memoir penned by Gulzar

Who would not like to read a book authored by Gulzar? ‘No one’ is the obvious answer. I am one of those fans of Gulzar who would like to read, listen to, see and understand Gulzar. Therefore, immediately after I learnt about the arrival of his new book, I bought it. Last Sunday the book arrived and I simply had a feeling of getting rich!

 

 

 

Gulzar has been a great writer, poet, director, script and song writer and has mastery over many languages. Bengali is one of his favourite languages. Therefore, he first shared his thoughts for a Bengali newspaper’s Sunday edition. He talked to Sanchari Mukherjee in Hindi, English, Bengali and Urdu, who then framed it Bengali. A compilation of all these articles was first published in Bengali with the title ‘Panta Bhate’ (rice soaked in water). It was translated into English by Maharghya Chakraborty and made available as an English book to us. It has been named ‘Actually … I Met Them’.

 

 

The book contains 18 chapters each written on a person from, mainly, the Hindi film industry. These people are not only acquaintances of Gulzar but are those with whom he worked closely with. While Gulzar narrates, very lucidly, about each person, he subtly tells us that these were the people who mentored him. They have contributed a large in grooming and making his personality.

 

 

Gulzar narrates how Bimal Roy’s ‘Hmmm’ meant different things at different times, how extraordinarily talented Salilda always wanted to keep playing TT and carom and how Kishore Kumar was hilariously naughty. His memories of how he was not destined to work with Satyajit Ray make us sigh about the film industry missing on some great work, had they both worked together. While writing on Panchamda, he concludes by saying, “A large part of me departed with Pancham; the Gulzar that remains is but half-complete.” His narration on how Suchitra Sen managed to cry without using glycerin and why Pandit Ravi Shankar wanted to start late on the work leaves the reader spellbound. The less known Samaresh Basu, Ritwik Ghatak and Tarun Majumdar befriend the reader easily.

 

 

Black and White set up of the book is another attraction. The pictures within help us to reminisce with that era of the Indian cinema on which today’s cinema rests proudly. While Gulzar met them actually, I also had a feeling of actually meeting them! As the publishers mention it, it is Personal, Intimate and Deeply Moving. And yes – it is an absolutely UNPUTDOWNABLE MEMOIR. One of the best books I have ever read! So, do read it and enjoy!

 

 

Published by: Penguin Random House India Pvt. Ltd.

MRP: Rs. 499/-