in conversation with GULZAAR

on 29th MAY '08 I met gulzar in a press conference. Got an opportunity to ask some questions to him here are some parts of the conversation...

Sorry, if u find the post hanging between Hindi and English, because i dont want to translate gulzar sahabs urdu in my broken english.

Gulzar visited Bhopal(M.P) for the 18th Iftekhaar khan samaroh and some of his plays were staged in Bharat Bhawan(auditorium). I was sent (along with a senior reporter to Hotel Palash residency to attend the press conference)

As we entered Palash Residency we were told to move to Khaana Peena 24X7 the restaurant were the press conference was to be held. As we reached first floor(khaana peena) i tried to prrp in through the glass door . And saw Gulzar saheb having a cup of tea with his friend Salim siddiqui saheb. I could see the brand Gulzar image which was in my mind in white kurta and it was a dream come true. I took a seat next to my senio reporter(Saroj sir). when i loked around they were all senior journalists and i started to sweat in nervousness. Saroj sir understood the situation and told me to relax. This was my story now the interveiw follows :

THEATRE KOI DAAL-CHAAVAL YA NON-VEG NAHIN HAI. ISKA EK ALAG MAZA HAI, EK ALAG NASHA

Q : How do you find theatre in the present scenario?

A : Theatre is the only honest medium, live to the audience and not market oriented. People moved to television and films when these medium overpowered. Now theatre is gaining it's position in the society.

Q : Sir, theatre artists are suffering a lot. What is your take on this?

A : (laughs)Kaun se suffer ki baat kar rahe hain aap hindi waale safar ya angreji waale. agar hindi waale ki baat kar rahe hain to accha hi hai na k log safar kar rahe hain. I would like to correct you it's not suffer it's struggle every art has to struggle. You have to struggle in order to be perfect. It's not only about theatre artist even classical music is suffering.

Q : But sir artists move away from theatre due to only this struggle about which you are talking.

A : See govt. needs to work for this. multiplex aur mall ban rahe hain par theatre nahin banaye ja rahe hain jabki uski lagat aur kam hai. Natak ke liye aisa kucch bhi nahin kiya ja raha hai.

Q : Sir, don't you think theatre is suffering because there are very few good writers?

A : Yes, i agree. acche natak likhne waalon ki kami hai.. There are no more original writers. Saare adopted hain.

(another reoporter)

Q : Sir aapko nahin lagta k log theatre se door ja rahe hain. Yuva pidhi ab ismein jyada interest nahin dikhati aur log ise bas filmon mein ghusne ka zariya maante hain.

A : nahin aisa bilkul nahin hai. Youngsters are being attracted towards theatre now. Aisa bilkul nahin hai aap bade kalakaaron ko hi dekh lein. Nasir(Nassiruddin Shah), Paresh aval jaise logon k baare mein aapko kya kehna hai.

Q : Sir aisa hai k bade kalakaaron ko theatre ki yaa beech mein isliye aati hai kyunki agar aap roz NON-VEH KHAAYEIN TO BEECH MEIN DAAL-CHAAVAL KI YAAD AA JAATI HAI. YAHI SWAD BADALNE K LIYE BADE KALAKAAR THEATRE KARTE HAIN"

A : Aisa bilkul bhi nahin hai. Theatre artists don't get enough money so, they need an alternative which television or films provide. kaun nahin chahta k uske bacche acche schoolon main padhein, accha khana mile. Jinko theatre se paise mil jaate hain woh kabhi nahin jaate Tom Alter, Presh Raval, Nassiruddin Shah aur bhi bahut se log hain. "THEATRE KOI DAAL-CHAAVAL YA NON-VEG NAHIN HAI. ISKA EK ALAG MAZA HAI, EK ALAG NASHA HAI".

(me)

Q : Sir, tell us something about your new play?

A : I'm writing a new play "Sarhad ke paar". us desh ke president ki parvarish yahan ki hai aur humare pradhanmantri ki paidaish wahan ki. Let's look at the border in a new way.

(another reporter)

Q : Sir, don't you think the song quality and language used in the films have detoriated and it's affecting the youth and the society?

A : I, completly disagree. Films are the reflection of society. humaari zaban bigad chuki hai. jis bhasha mein hum roz baat karte hain woh bigad chuki hai. filmein wahi dikhati hain jo samaj mein ho raha hai. isse society nahin bigad rahi hai, hum pehle bigde hain aur ab filmein wahi dikha rahi hain. jahan tak baat gaano ki hai to gaane filmon k hisab se likhe jaate hain . jab waisi filmein hi nahin ban rahi hain to gaane ki umeed kaise kar rahe hain. ek naayak aata hai goliyan chala kar sabkp maar kar chala jaata hai. aise mein aap yeh kaise umeed kar rahe hain ke gaana hoga" AIE DILE NAADAN YEH TUJHE HUA KYA".(laughs)

Q : filmon mein koi aisi hasrat jo ab tak poori nahin hui ho?

A : Tagore par ek kaam karna chahta hun.

mamu(the organiser) enters aap sabse maafi chahunga. khane ka waqt ho gaya hai. sir chal k kha lijiye fir bharat bhawan bhi jaan hai. aap log baad mein aaiye 3-sadhe 3 k aas paas baaki logon se bhi mulaquat ho jayegi.

and the spell was broken. It was like some one shook me to wake me up in the world of reality. Then few girls from Radio Mirchi rushed for his auto graphs and photos. I waited till the crowd was cleared. I slowly walked towards him and touched his feet(didn't notice me walking towards him so he was amazed by my act). He said"are utho beta yeh kya kar rahe ho"?

I replied " ek zamaane ki hasrat thi sir aaj pori ho gayi" he said "jeete raho. naam kya hai tumhara?"

Shakti -i replied. Then i had his autograph and what i was missing all this time was my camera phone coz, i missed the opportunity of having a picture with him