Gulzar is arguably the most well-known contemporary poet writing in Hindustani. He occupies a unique place by being a Progressive poet in a popular culture. His poetry appeals to all strata of society, without compromising either on literary merit or on its ability to convey the most exalted thought in an accessible idiom. In Chand Nigal Gayi, the Hindi translation of I Swallowed the Moon, Saba Bashir attempts to analyse what makes Gulzar the poet he is. She also draws a parallel between the poet's film and non-film poetry and points out how they are used interchangeably.This is a valuable addition to the corpus of work on a great poet.

'Papi says it is wrong of parents to presume that they know better, or know more than their child does. They may be biologically older than their child, but in their experience as parents, they're of the same age. So if I was his two-year-old daughter, he was my two-year-old father. And we were both learning and evolving together -- he as my father and me as his daughter.' All of us know Gulzar as a film-maker, screenplay and dialogue writer, lyricist par excellence, author and poet. Because He Is... presents a facet of the icon that none of us are aware of -- as a father. In iridescent prose, his daughter, Meghna, documents his life, revealing the man behind the legend: in every way a hands-on father, who prepared her for school without fail every day, braiding her hair and tying her shoelaces, and who despite his busy career in cinema, always made it a point to end his workday at 4 p.m. because her school ended at that time, and who wrote a book for her birthday every year till she was thirteen. From her earliest memories of waking up in the morning to the strains of him playing the sitar to him writing the songs for her films now, Meghna presents an intimate portrait of a father who indulged her in every way and yet raised her to be independent and confident of the choices she made. She also records his phenomenal creative oeuvre, the many trials and tribulations of his personal and professional life, through all of which she remained a priority. Beautifully designed and illustrated with never-before-seen photographs, Because He Is... offers an incredible insight into the bond between a father and a daughter.

A comprehensive analysis of the work of one of India's foremost poets Gulzar is arguably the most well-known contemporary poet writing in Hindustani. As a poet he occupies a unique place being a Progressive poet in a popular culture. His poetry appeals to all strata of society, without compromising either on literary merit or on its ability to convey the most exalted thought in an accessible idiom. In 'He Swallowed the Moon', Saba Bashir attempts to analyse what makes Gulzar the poet he is. What is his signature style? What are the issues that concern his poetry and what are the recurrent images in it? She also draws a parallel between the poet's film and non-film poetry and points out how they are used interchangeably. Including the most comprehensive list of all Gulzar's poems, film and non-film songs, this is a valuable addition to the corpus of work on a great poet.

At one level, Gulzar's Aandhi (1975) is a story of estranged love between two headstrong and individualistic personalities; at another, it is a tongue-in-cheek comment on the political scenario of the country. Through a close textual analysis of the film, this book examines in detail its stellar cast, the language and dialogues, and the evergreen songs which had a major role in making the film a commercial success. Gulzar's own insights into the making of Aandhi (from an interview) further enhances the readers' understanding of the film. Saba Bashir's book will delight those wanting to savour the duality and drama that befit life, or shall we say, cinema.

‘On the branches of these wild plants Some words occasionally sprout But never a full poem . . .’ One of the country’s best-loved poets and lyricists, Gulzar is renowned for his inimitable way of seeing things, his witty expressions, his quirky turns of phrase. All these creative talents come into play in delightful, unexpected ways in his new bilingual collection Green Poems, which celebrates his innate connection with nature. Gulzar writes about rivers, forests, mountains; snow, rain, clouds; the sky, the earth and space; a familiar tree, a disused well; Kullu, Manali, Chamba, Thimpu. Like glimpses of nature, the poems are often short, an image captured in a few words. And sometimes the image gives rise to a striking thought: ‘When I pass through the forest I feel my ancestors are around me . . .’ For those new to Gulzar’s work as well as his many fans, Green Poems will prove to be a true joy.

Gulzar, one of India’s finest film-makers and lyricists and has always been a poet at heart. His oeuvre is steeped in a poetic sensibility, marked by a lyricism rare in the world of Hindi cinema. Today, Gulzar is regarded as one of India’s foremost Urdu poets, unparalleled in his exploration of human relationships and the insight and sensitivity with which he addresses the many facets of daily life. The sophistication and cadences of Gulzar’s work come alive in this bilingual edition of some of his best poetry, sensitively translated by Pavan K. Varma.

Ever been mesmerized by Gulzar’s songs? Delve into an unseen layer, a fresh perspective that brings new dimensions and meanings to his already powerful pieces of poetry. His rare verselets will make you fall in love once again.

He is ten years old and confined to a wheelchair. But that's not his identity. To the world, he is India's youngest patent holder for inventing variants of chess for six, twelve and sixty players. Have you heard of the Army Major who was declared dead in the Kargil war, but is India's first blade runner today? Do you think a woman without hands can be one of India's leading painters? What is the first thought that comes to your mind when you see a differently-abled person? Pity? Sympathy? The real-life success stories of fifteen differently-abled people charted in Because Life is a Gift will make you think otherwise. You will sense pride replace all feelings of pity and sympathy for they have fought against all odds to achieve their dreams. This book is a tribute to their courage, passion and zest for life. They will challenge your notion of the impossible. They will inspire you to live lifeto the fullest, because life is truly a gift.

Gulzar is regarded as one of India’s foremost Urdu poets today, renowned for his unusual perspectives on life, his keen understanding of the complexities of human relationships, and his striking imagery. After Selected Poems, a collection of some of his best poetry translated by Pavan K. Varma was extremely well received, Gulzar has chosen to present his next sixty poems in an inimitable way: labelling them Neglected Poems. ‘Neglected’ only in name, these poems represent Gulzar at his creative and imaginative best, as he meditates on nature (the mountains, the monsoon, a sparrow), delves into human psychology (when a relationship ends one is amazed to notice that ‘everything goes on exactly as it used to’), explores great cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi and New York (‘In your town, my friend, how is it that there are no homes for ants?’), and confronts the most telling moments of everyday life.