*Ek Oscar Lo, Ek Muft*: Gulzar
25 Feb 2009, 1231 hrs IST, Subhash K Jha
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Text:
With all the bouquets my home has literally become 'Gulzar'. The
Rahman-Gulzar jodi can truly be captioned Jai ho.”
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Gulzar More
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Speaking on A R Rahman’s two Oscars, Gulzar Saab chuckles mischievously.
“It’s like the song I wrote for Guru for him Ek lo ek muft. He got one Oscar
and then the other one was a bonus. Happily I’m part of the second one.”
Gulzar Saab was not in Los Angeles when the double Oscar for Slumdog
Millionaire including one for a song Jai ho written by the
poet-extraordinaire was announced.
In fact he wasn’t even watching the Oscars when the Oscar for Jai ho
announced.
“Forget about me. I feel very proud of Rahman ... always have always will. I
think Rahman brought a change to Indian film songs, and for years. He gave a
new form to the film song. This recognition at the Oscars proves that he has
made a world of difference to the Hindi film song. Otherwise classical
Indian music was always known globally even before the fim song.”
Gulzar Saab reminisces on Rahman. “I started noticing his pathbreaking
numbers when he did his first score with me in Dil Se. But even before that
he was doing pioneering work. When I heard the announcement for his first
Oscar I got a lump in my throat. It was enough for me. I got up and left the
room. I didn’t know my song Jai ho won the Oscar. My son-in-law Govind came
and hugged me and said, ‘It’s won a double Oscar . One for your song.’
Gulzar Saab feels the double Oscar is a benchmark for our cinema. “It makes
Indian cinema a part of world cinema, just like there are Asian awards that
make us part of Asian cinema. Oscars certainly put us under a global gaze.
Since the Oscars are American our Indian films never before went into
mainstream categories. Slumdog Millionaire has opened up doors for our
cinema .”
Gulzar Saab is also very proud of the Oscar given to Resul Pookutty for
sound mixing. “Rahman’s Oscar we all expected. I’m happy to be part of his
second Oscar. But Resul’s recognition is a breakthrough for all technicians
in Indian cinema.”
Gulzar Saab would also like make mention of Sukhwinder who sang the
Oscar-winning song Jai ho. “No one else is mentioning him. He’s an integral
part of Jai ho. Of course, Rahman is the most important part of the song.
But after that Sukhwinder and I are also important components in the song.”
So why wasn’t he at the Oscars ceremony?
Because,” Gulzar Saab deadpans, “I didn’t have a black coat and no lawyer
was willing to lend me a size that fitted. I was too nervous to attend
without a black coat.”
Press him a little further he comes out with the truth, “My right shoulder
got hurt while playing tennis. I pulled a muscle two weeks ago. I’m going
through therapy. I’ve a tennis tournament on March 1. Hopefully, my
physiotherapist will allow me. I’ll play even if I lose. But I didn’t want
us to lose at the Oscars.”
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/Ek-Oscar-Lo-Ek-Muft-Gulzar/rssarticleshow/4187879.cms
--
regards,
Vithur
