Renowned Indian poet, lyricist and film director Gulzar is set to come up with a memoir by the coming year. This book, tentatively titled, Actually… I Met Them: A Memoir, to be published by Penguin Random House India will have the author recount his encounters with the stalwarts of Indian cinema, art, literature and music.
Gulzar will share candid anecdotes from his association with some of the most eminent people he had known and worked with over a long period of time. From Satyajit Ray to R.D. Burman, Kishore Kumar, Bimal Roy, Ritwik Ghatak, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Mahasweta Devi and Samaresh Basu, among others. In addition, there will be chapters on contemporary filmmakers, writers, poets, musicians, singers and actors.
The book promises to open a window for readers to get to know some of the doyens of Indian art, culture and cinema through the lens of the gifted artist as he shares his special memories and experiences of working with them. Studded with rare photographs and scintillating humour, this book should be a compelling tale for a wide spectrum of readers.
Gulzar adds, “Memories don’t dry up really. They keep floating somewhere between the conscious and the subconscious mind. It’s a great feeling to swim there sometime. Pick up a few bubbly moments and cherish them again. I was fortunate to be born in the era of some of the greatest masters, and was lucky that I actually met them. I got a chance to work with a few. There were Gurus, friends and colleagues among them.”
