Gulzar (Sampooran Singh) is a Oscar winning lyricist, poet, story/screenplay/dialogue writer and a director. He has just won an Oscar for Best Original Song for ‘Jai Ho’ along with A R Rahman. He has been awarded the Padma Bhushan and Sahitya Akademi Award. He has won 5 National Awards and 19 Filmfare awards (9 for Best Lyricist – the highest).Gulzar started off as a lyricist with the song ‘Mora Gora Ang Laile’ from Bandini (1963) and still continues to write great songs with the latest being the song ‘Khudaya Khair’ from Billu Barber. He has directed beautiful movies like Mere Apne, Parichay, Koshish, Aandhi, Mausam, Khushboo, Kitaab, Kinara, Angoor, Namkeen, Ijaazat and Maachis. He has written dialogues for movies like Anand, Namak Haraam, Bawarchi, Chupke Chupke and Saathiya.
He has directed TV shows like Mirza Ghalib and Kirdaar and written songs for Ek Kahani Aur Milli, The Jungle Book, Potli Baba Ki, Guchche, Alice in Wonderland and Daane Anaar Ke. He is a multi-talented genius, a man who is the epitome of excellence and who has never compromised on his work and has always done what he really believed in. His work over the years speaks for itself. The only criticism that can be made about Gulzar’s lyrics is that some of his songs are a bit difficult to understand for ordinary folks because of his use of metaphors and uncommon Urdu words. In his defense, he has also written some great songs with the use of just simple words. Every song of his has poetry in it and this is something that no one can deny.
Here is a list of the awards that he has received.
| Academy Awards | ||
| Best Original Song | ‘Jai Ho’ – Slumdog Millionaire | 2008 |
| National Awards | ||
| Second Best Film | Mausam | 1975 |
| Best Film for Wholesome Entertainment | Maachis | 1996 |
| Best Screenplay | Koshish | 1972 |
| Best Lyricist | ‘Mera kuchh saamaan’ – Ijaazat | 1988 |
| Best Lyricist | ‘Yaara sili sili’ – Lekin | 1991 |
| Filmfare Awards | ||
| Best Director | Mausam | 1975 |
| Best Feature Film (Critics) | Aandhi | 1975 |
| Best Story | Maachis | 1996 |
| Best Dialogue | Anand | 1971 |
| Best Dialogue | Namak Haraam | 1973 |
| Best Dialogue | Maachis | 1996 |
| Best Dialogue | Saathiya | 2002 |
| Best Lyricist | ‘Do diwane shahar mein’ – Gharonda | 1977 |
| Best Lyricist | ‘Aanewala pal jaane wala hai’- Golmaal | 1979 |
| Best Lyricist | ‘Hazar rahen mud ke dekhi’- Thodi Si Bewafai | 1980 |
| Best Lyricist | ‘Tujhse naraaz nahin zindagi’ – Masoom | 1983 |
| Best Lyricist | ‘Tujhse naraaz nahin zindagi’ – Masoom | 1983 |
| Best Lyricist | ‘Mera kuchh saamaan’ – Ijaazat | 1988 |
| Best Lyricist | ‘Yaara sili sili’ – Lekin | 1991 |
| Best Lyricist | ‘Chal Chhaiyya Chhaiyya Chhaiyya’ – Dil Se | 1998 |
| Best Lyricist | ‘Saathiya’ – Saathiya | 2002 |
| Best Lyricist | ‘Kajra Re’ – Bunty aur Babli | 2005 |
Here is a list of his best and some of Hindi Cinema’s greatest songs.
| Year | Movie | Songs | Music Director |
| 1961 | Kabuliwala | Ganga aaye kahan se – Hemant Kumar | Salil Choudhary |
| 1963 | Bandini | Mora Gora Ang Laile – Lata Mangeshkar(supposed to be his first song) | S.D. Burman |
| 1968 | Do Dooni Chaar | Hawaon pe likh do hawaon ke naam – Kishore Kumar | Hemant Kumar |
| 1969 | Khamoshi | Wo Shaam Kuchh Ajeeb Thi – Kishore Kumar Tum Pukaar Lo – Hemant Kumar Hamne Dekhi Hai Un Aankhon Ki – Lata Mangeshkar | Hemant Kumar |
| 1971 | Anand | Maine Tere Liye Hi – Mukesh | Salil Choudhary |
| 1971 | Guddi | Bole Re Papihara – Vani Jayraam Humko Man Ki Shaqti Dena – Vani Jayraam | Vasant Desai |
| 1971 | Mere Apne | Koi hota jisko apna – Kishore Kumar Haal chaal theek thaak hai – Mukesh | Salil Choudhary |
| 1972 | Parichay | Musafir hoon yaaron – Kishore Kumar Saare ke saare gama ko lekar – Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle | R.D. Burman |
| 1975 | Mausam | Chhadi re chhadi kaise gale mein padi – Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar Ruke ruke se qadam – Lata Mangeshkar Dil dhoondhta hai phir wohi (Happy and Sad) – Bhupinder, Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar | Madan Mohan (and Jaidev) |
| 1975 | Khushboo | O Maanjhi re – Kishore Kumar Bechara Dil Kya Kare – Asha | R.D. Burman |
| 1975 | Aandhi | Is mod se jaate hain – Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar Tum aagaye ho – Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar Tere bina zindagi se koi – Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar | R.D. Burman |
| 1977 | Ghar | Aajkal paaon zameen per nahin padte mere – Lata Mangeshkar Aapki ankhon mein kuchh mehke hue se – Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar Phir wahi raat hain – Kishore Kumar Tere bina jiya jaye naa – Lata Mangeshkar (and Kishore for a bit) | R.D. Burman |
| 1977 | Khatta Meetha | Ye jeena hai angoor ka daana – Kishore Kumar Tumse mil tha pyar – Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar Thoda hai thode ki zaroorat hai – Kishore Kumar,Lata Mangeshkar Mummy o mummy tu kab saas banegi – Kishore Kumar | Rajesh Roshan |
| 1977 | Kinara | Naam gum jayega – Lata Mangeshkar,Bhupinder Ek hi khwab kai baar dekha hai maine – Bhpendra, Hema Jaane kya soch kar nahin guzra – Kishore Kumar | R.D. Burman |
| 1977 | Palkon ki chhaon mein | Dakiya daak laya – Kishore Kumar Allah megh de | Lakshmikant Pyarelal |
| 1978 | Gharonda | Do deewane shahar mein – Bhupinder, Runa Laila Ek akela is shahar mein – Bhupinder | Jaidev |
| 1978 | Devta | Gulmohar gar tumhara naam hota – Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar | R.D. Burman |
| 1979 | Golmaal | Aane wala pal jaane wala hai – Kishore Kumar Golmaal hai bhai sab golmaal hai – Sapan Chakravarthy, R D Burman Sapne mein dekha sapna – Kishore Kumar | R.D. Burman |
| 1980 | Khoobsurat | Sun sun sun didi tere liye – Asha Bhonsle | R.D. Burman |
| 1980 | Thodi si bewafaai | Hazaar Raahen Mud ke dekhi – Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar Aankhon mein hamne aapke – Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar Aaj bichhade hain kal ka dar bhi nahi – Bhupinder Mausam Mausam Lovely Mausam – Sulakshna Shreshtha | Khayyam |
| 1981 | Namkeen | Raah pe rahte hain – Kishore Kumar Aanki chali baanki chali – Asha Bhonsle | R.D. Burman |
| 1982 | Masoom | Lakdi ki kaathi – Preeti Uttam, Vanita Mishra Huzoor is qadar bhi naa itra ke chaliye – Bhupinder, Suresh Wadkar Tujhse naaraaz nahin zindagi – Lata Mangeshkar Tujhse naaraaz nahin zindagi – Anup Ghoshal Do naina ek kahani – Arti Mukherji | R.D. Burman |
| 1983 | Sadma | Aey Zindagi gale laga le – Suresh Wadkar Ek dafa ek jungle tha – Kamal Hasan Surmai ankhiyon mein – Yesudas | Illayaraja |
| 1986 | Izaazat | Mera kuch saamaan – Asha Bhonsle Katra Katra milati hai – Asha Bhonsle Chhoti si kahani mein – Asha Bhonsle | R.D. Burman |
| 1986 | Jeeva | Roz roz ankhon tale – Amit,Asha Bhonsle | R.D. Burman |
| 1990 | Lekin | Yara sili sili virah ki raat ka jalna – Lata Mangeshkar | Hridaynath Mangeshkar |
| 1993 | Libaas | Sili hawa chhoo gayee – Lata Mangeshkar | R.D. Burman |
| 1993 | Maya Memsaab | Ek haseen nigah ka dil pe saya hai – Lata Mangeshkar Ek haseen nigah ka dil pe saya hai – Kumar Sanu Khud se baaten karte rehna – Lata Mangeshkar Is dil mein bas kar dekho to – Lata Mangeshkar O dil banjaare – Lata Mangeshkar Mere sirhaane jalaao sapne – Lata Mangeshkar | Hridaynath Mangeshkar |
| 1995 | Rudaali | Dil hum hum kare – Lata Mangeshkar Dil hum hum Kare – Bhupen Hazarika Dola ho dola – Bhupen Hazarika Samay o dheere chalo – BhupenHazarika Samay o dheere chalo – Lata Mangeshkar | Bhupen Hazarika |
| 1996 | Maachis | Chhod aaye hum wo galiyan – Suresh Wadkar, Hariharan, KK Chappa chappa charkha chale – Suresh Wadkar, Hariharan Pani Pani re – Lata Mangeshkar | Vishal |
| 1997 | Daayra | Palkon pe chalte chalte jab – Yesudas | Anand Milind |
| 1997 | Chachi 420 | Dauda dauda bhaga bhaga sa – Hariharan Ek woh din be the – Rekha | Vishal |
| 1998 | Satya | Baadalon Se Kaat Kaat Kar – Bhupinder Tu mere paas bhi hai – Hariharan, Lata Mangeshkar Goli mar bheje mein – Mano Geela Geela Pani – Lata Mangeshkar Sapne mein milta hai – Suresh Wadkar, Asha Bhonsle | Vishal |
| 1998 | Dil Se | Chal Chaiyya – Sukhwinder, Sapna Jiya jale – Lata Mangeshkar Dil se re – A R Rahman Aey Ajnabi tu bhi kabhi – Udit Narayan, Mahalakshmi Tu hi tu satrangi re – Sonu Nigam | A.R. Rahman |
| 1998 | Jahan Tum Le Chalo | Atthanni si zindagi – Hariharan Your face is face of love – Gary Lawyer Dekho to aasmaan – Suresh Wadekar Thak gayee ho to suno – Suresh Wadekar | Vishal |
| 1999 | Hu Tu Tu | Chhai Chhap Chhai – Lata Mangeshkar, Hariharan | Vishal |
| 1999 | Khoobsurat | Bahut khoobsurat ho – Abhijeet, Neerja Pandit Aana jara paas to aa – Kumar Sanu, Anuradha Aazmaale ye formule – Abhijeet/Shraddha Pandit | Jatin Lalit |
| 2000 | Fiza | Aaja mahiya – Udit Narayan, Alka | Anu Malik |
| 2001 | Rockford | Aasmaan Ke Paar Shayad – Shankar Mahadevan | Shankar Ehsaan Loy |
| 2002 | Ashoka | Raat Ka Nasha – Chitra Roshni Se – Abhijeet, Alka Yagnik O Re Kanchi – Shaan, Sunita Rao | Anu Malik |
| 2003 | Saathiya | Saathiya – Sonu Nigam Aye Udi Udi – Adnan Sami Humdum Suniyo Re – KK, Shaan, Kunal, Pravin Mani | A R Rahman |
| 2004 | Bunty Aur Babli | Kajra Re – Alisha Chinai, Shankar Mahadevan & Javed Ali | Shankar Ehsaan Loy |
| 2005 | Paheli | Dheere Jalna – Sonu Nigam & Shreya Ghosal | M M Kreem |
| 2005 | Yahaan | Naam Adaa Likhna – Shaan & Shreya Ghoshal | Shantanu Moitra |
| 2006 | Jaan-E-Man | Humko Maaloom Hai – Sonu Nigam, Sadhna Sargam | Shantanu Moitra |
| 2007 | No Smoking | Jab Bhi Ciggrette – Adnan Sami | Vishal Bharadwaj |
| 2008 | Yuvvraj | Tu Hi To Mera Dost Hai – Benny Dayal, Shreya Ghosal, A R Rahman Shano Shano – Sonu Nigam, Srinivas, Karthik, Timmy, Sunaina, Vivienne Pocha, Tina, Blaze Tu Muskura – Alka Yagnik, Javed AliM Zindagi – Srinivas Dil Ka Rishta – Sonu Nigam, Roopkumar Rathod, A R Rahman | A R Rahman |
| 2008 | Slumdog Millionaire | Jai Ho – Sukhwinder, Tanvi Shah | A R Rahman |
| 2009 | Billu | Marjaani – Sukhwinder Singh, Sunidhi Chahuhan Billoo Bhayankar – Ajay Jhingaran, Raghuveer, Kalpana Khudaya Khair – Soham, Akriti Kakkar, Monali | Pritam |
