Gulzar: A life in long verse and great form

This article celebrates Gulzar, an influential Indian poet, lyricist, film director, and author, who has maintained a prominent creative career for over seventy years across multiple demanding public crafts. He is lauded for his unique voice, continuous evolution, and numerous national and international awards, including an Oscar and Grammy.
Why it matters
The article pays tribute to a living legend in Indian arts and literature, highlighting his enduring impact and versatility across various creative fields, serving as an inspiration and cultural touchstone.
A river runs for centuries and yet belies the idea of permanence. It flows away as it flows in, can both flood and run dry, take in tributaries, change course and annex newer territories. A long creative career carries a similar paradox. While retaining an essential recognisable voice it must continually acquire new vocabularies. For over seventy years, Picasso did not merely survive shifting artistic movements but actually spearheaded most of them without once falling out of contention.
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