Sampooran Singh Kalra known popularly by his pen name Gulzar, is an Indian poet, lyricist, musician, composer and film director. Born in Jhelum District in British India (now in Pakistan) his family moved to India after partition. He started his career with music director S.D. Burman as a lyricist in the 1963 film Bandini and worked with many music directors including R. D. Burman, Salil Chowdhury, Vishal Bhardwaj and A. R. Rahman. He directed films such as Aandhi and Mausam during the 1970s and the TV series Mirza Ghalib in the 1980s. He also directed Kirdaar in 1993. He also wrote the theme song for Motu Patlu, an Indian animated sitcom.
Gulzar also wrote poetry, dialogues and scripts. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2004, the third-highest civilian award in India, the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award — the highest award in Indian cinema. He has won several Indian National Film Awards, 20 Filmfare Awards, one Academy Award and one Grammy Award.
Known For
Slumdog Millionaire
(2008)
Lyricist
Dear Zindagi
(2016)
Lyricist
Darlings
(2022)
Lyricist
Guru
(2007)
Lyricist
Raazi
(2018)
Lyricist
Chupke Chupke
(1975)
Screenplay and Dialogue
Talvar
(2015)
Lyricist
Gol Maal
(1979)
Musical
Drishyam
(2015)
Lyricist
Billu
(2009)
Lyricist
Sam Bahadur
(2023)
Lyricist
Chachi 420
(1997)
Dialogue and Lyricist
Omkara
(2006)
Lyricist
Haider
(2014)
Lyricist
Ok Jaanu
(2017)
Dialogue and Lyricist
Kill Dil
(2014)
Lyricist
Full Filmography
Writing
Kabuliwala
(1961)
Lyricist
Bandini
(1963)
Lyricist
Sunghursh
(1968)
Dialogue
Aashirwad
(1968)
Dialogue
Khamoshi
(1969)
Musical and Dialogue
Bilambita Loy
(1970)
Lyricist
Guddi
(1971)
Screenplay
Anand
(1971)
Dialogue, Screenplay, and Lyricist
Mere Apne
(1971)
Writer
Anubhav
(1971)
Lyricist
Sabse Bada Sukh
(1972)
Dialogue
Koshish
(1972)
Screenplay
Parichay
(1972)
Screenplay
Achanak
(1973)
Writer
Namak Haraam
(1973)
Dialogue and Screenplay
Jeevan Sangram
(1974)
Screenplay, Dialogue, and Lyricist
Mausam
(1975)
Screenplay
Cinema Paithiyam
(1975)
Writer
Aandhi
(1975)
Screenplay
Khushboo
(1975)
Dialogue and Screenplay
Chupke Chupke
(1975)
Screenplay and Dialogue
Faraar
(1975)
Story
Jallian Wala Bagh
(1977)
Writer, Screenplay, and Lyricist
Gharaonda
(1977)
Screenplay, Lyricist, and Dialogue
Kitaab
(1977)
Writer
Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein
(1977)
Writer
Uyarnthavargal
(1977)
Original Story
Devata
(1978)
Writer
Gol Maal
(1979)
Musical
Meera
(1979)
Writer
The Jewelled Lamp
(1979)
Lyricist
Swayamvar
(1980)
Lyricist
Khubsoorat
(1980)
Writer
Namkeen
(1982)
Screenplay
Angoor
(1982)
Screenplay
Zara Si Zindagi
(1983)
Dialogue
Hip Hip Hurray
(1983)
Writer
Sadma
(1983)
Dialogue and Lyricist
Masoom
(1983)
Screenplay
New Delhi Times
(1986)
Writer
Ek Pal
(1986)
Dialogue
Ijaazat
(1987)
Screenplay, Lyricist, and Dialogue
Mirza Ghalib
(1988)
Writer
Libaas
(1988)
Writer
Lekin...
(1990)
Screenplay
Maya Memsaab
(1993)
Lyricist
Rudaali
(1993)
Writer
Mammo
(1994)
Lyricist
Maachis
(1996)
Screenplay and Story
Chachi 420
(1997)
Dialogue and Lyricist
Dil Se..
(1998)
Lyricist
Satya
(1998)
Lyricist
Rockford
(1999)
Lyricist
Swapno Niye
(1999)
Story
Hu Tu Tu
(1999)
Writer
Fiza
(2000)
Lyricist
Dil Vil Pyar Vyar
(2002)
Lyricist
Saathiya
(2002)
Dialogue
Pinjar
(2003)
Lyricist
Maqbool
(2003)
Lyricist
The Blue Umbrella
(2005)
Lyricist
Omkara
(2006)
Lyricist
Jaan-E-Mann
(2006)
Lyricist
Guru
(2007)
Lyricist
Yuvvraaj
(2008)
Lyricist
Slumdog Millionaire
(2008)
Lyricist
Do Paise Ki Dhoop, Chaar Aane Ki Baarish
(2009)
Lyricist
Kaminey
(2009)
Lyricist
Billu
(2009)
Lyricist
Firaaq
(2009)
Lyricist
Raavan
(2010)
Lyricist
Ishqiya
(2010)
Lyricist
Raajneeti
(2010)
Lyricist
7 Khoon Maaf
(2011)
Lyricist
Masoom
(2014)
Writer
Kill Dil
(2014)
Lyricist
Haider
(2014)
Lyricist
Drishyam
(2015)
Lyricist
Talvar
(2015)
Lyricist
Dear Zindagi
(2016)
Lyricist
Mirzya
(2016)
Story and Screenplay
Rangoon
(2017)
Lyricist
Mehrunisa V Lub U
(2017)
Lyricist
Ok Jaanu
(2017)
Dialogue and Lyricist
Raazi
(2018)
Lyricist
The Sky Is Pink
(2019)
Lyricist
Chhapaak
(2020)
Lyricist
1232 KMs
(2021)
Lyricist
Cirkus
(2022)
Original Story
Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga
(2022)
Lyricist
Darlings
(2022)
Lyricist
Fursat
(2023)
Lyricist
Kuttey
(2023)
Lyricist
Khufiya
(2023)
Lyricist
Sam Bahadur
(2023)
Lyricist
Ponniyin Selvan: Part II
(2023)
Lyricist
Acting
Parda
(1949)
Salma
Jallian Wala Bagh
(1977)
Suneel
Chala Murari Hero Banne
(1977)
Self
Griha Pravesh
(1979)
Guest Appearance in song
Raincoat
(2004)
Poetry (voice)
Celluloid Man
(2012)
Self
Jai Ho
(2014)
self
Kaagaz Ki Kashti
(2016)
Himself
Roots
(2017)
Directing
Bandini
(1963)
Assistant Director
Mere Apne
(1971)
Director
Parichay
(1972)
Director
Koshish
(1972)
Director
Achanak
(1973)
Director
Mausam
(1975)
Director
Khushboo
(1975)
Director
Aandhi
(1975)
Director
Kitaab
(1977)
Director
Kinara
(1977)
Director
Meera
(1979)
Director
Sahira
(1980)
Director
Namkeen
(1982)
Director
Angoor
(1982)
Director
Ijaazat
(1987)
Director
Libaas
(1988)
Director
Mirza Ghalib
(1988)
Director
Lekin...
(1990)
Director
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi
(1992)
Director
Maachis
(1996)
Director
Hu Tu Tu
(1999)
Director
Production
Sound
Crew