Poet-filmmaker Gulzar has penned an ode to the life of legendary poet Mirza Ghalib - the man he calls his master and "a complete solar system".

"There is no one like him," said Gulzar at the release Saturday of the book "Mirza Ghalib - A Biographical Scenario" - his tribute to the life and times of Ghalib (1797-1869), one of the greatest poets that ever lived.

"In sheer imagery, every bit of which has been derived from the sights and sounds of India, he reigns supreme. I am but his humble servant," said Gulzar, in white kurta-pajama, off-white sleeveless sweater and shawl.

"His other servants have passed away, as has Ghalib, but I am still in his service."

The 221-page book, published by Rupa, is filled with couplets, incidents and anecdotes from the life of the master poet whose verse has inspired and enthralled generations of fans and followers.

In it Gulzar, one of India's most prolific writers, provides insightful details on how the master wordsmith worked and also English translations of some of the most memorable verses that the mercurial poet, who has been described as the soul of India, ever wrote.

"Dil-e-nadan tujhe hua kya hai? (Oh you innocent heart what has become of you?)," wrote Ghalib. "Aakhir iss dard ki dawa hya hai? (What is the way out of this pain?")

"Hum ko un se wafa ki hai umeed/Jo nahin jante wafa kya hai (I long for loyalty from the one/Who knows not what loyalty is.)

And Gulzar, who once made a famous television serial on the life of Ghalib, said it is this enchanting, almost haunting sense of love and irony that has forever attracted him to Ghalib.

"He is a stalwart in the true sense of the word," said Gulzar, considered one of the finest lyricists in the Hindi film industry.

"He has inspired me and so many others and continues to do so. I believe that the legacy of Ghalib will endure long after all of us are gone.

"In every age, people will turn to him for words whenever they want to find words to express the deepest passions of their heart."