by Subhash K Jha

Gulzar Saab,as I and our universe of Gulzar-o-philes call him, pointed out an uncanny coincidence regarding a a new utterly fascinating anthology compiling songs written by Gulzar Saab and composed by R.D. Burman entitled Qatrah-Qatrah.

Says the poet-lyricist par excellence, "In one of Pancham's most beloved songs for me Mera kuch samaan I had written, 'Ek sau solah chand ki raatein/Ek tumhare kaandhe ka til.'

Those 116 moonlit nights in that lyric proved prophetic. When these two anthologists Vishwas Nerurkar and Biswanath Chatterjee got together to prepare this anthology Qatrah Qatrah for Sangeet Kala Kendra they didn't know that there were exactly 116 songs written by me that Pancham composed music for.

And that fact was unconsciously mentioned in the line 116 chand ki raatein in Ijaazat."

Gulzar Saab has many memories and anecdotes pertaining to Pancham.

"He used to be at his wit's about my lyrics. Ek to bechare ki Hindi weak thi...oopar se meri poetry...When I gave him Mera kuch samaan he threw away the lyric sheet saying,

'Next you'll give me the headline of Times Of India and tell me to tune it.'

For Iss mod se jaate hain he wanted to know where this city called Nash-e-man was to be found. I'd sometimes hear him humming a Bengali song and ask him to give it to me.

That's what happened with Tere bina zindagi se (Aandhi)and Do nainon mein aansoon bhare hain (Khushboo). For a song in Ghar he was petrified to tell Lataji to sing the word badmaashiyon.

I had to do the needful while Pancham hid behind a pillar. Pancham lived only for his music. Everything else was a distraction for him. Of course I miss him. This anthology reminded me of him."

That isn't all. Veteran journalist Saibal Chatterjee has penned a biography Echoes & Eloquence The Life And Cinema Of Gulzar which interweaves little-known details from Gulzar Saab's life from his childhood and growing up years, with his cinema.

Being a diehard fan of Gulzar Saab's works Chatterjee is able to provide an ambrosial anchor to the narration by bringing the artiste and the humanebing in the same line of vision.

Says Gulzar Saab, "Saibal is someone I've known for years. He has a great deal of affection for my work. Normally I wouldn't want books written on my work. That's too selfimportant. But I couldn't say no this."