Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Gulzar’s Punjabi Heritage Shapes His Poetry and Film Lyrics
Gulzar is a famous poet, writer and filmmaker.
He was born Sampooran Singh Kalra in Dina, a town now in Pakistan.
He moved to Mumbai through Delhi when he was 16.
Even after leaving Punjab, its language, stories and traditions stayed important to him.
He wrote about the pain of Partition and families being forced to leave their homes.
His film songs often use Punjabi words, folk ideas and Sufi poetry.
Songs such as “Chhaiyan Chhaiyan,” “Maar Udari” and “Jai Ho” show these influences.
Gulzar also directed and wrote many films, including Maachis and Ijaazat.
His work has earned major honors, including an Oscar and a Grammy for “Jai Ho.”
Gulzar, born Sampooran Singh Kalra, moved from Dina to Mumbai via Delhi at 16.
His Punjabi heritage appears in his poetry, short stories, screenplays and Hindi film lyrics.
His writing addresses Partition, displacement and Punjab’s shared cultural identity.
Sufi poets and Punjabi folk traditions influenced songs including “Chhaiyan Chhaiyan,” “Jai Ho” and “Maar Udari.”
Gulzar won a Grammy and an Oscar with A.R. Rahman for “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire.
- Who
- Gulzar, born Sampooran Singh Kalra, a poet, lyricist, screenwriter and filmmaker.
- What
- A review of how Punjabi heritage, Partition and Sufi traditions shaped Gulzar’s writing and film songs.
- When
- He moved to Mumbai at 16; his formal film career began in 1963, and he recently marked his 92nd birthday.
- Where
- He was born in Dina in Jhelum district, now in Pakistan, and later worked in Mumbai and Hindi cinema.
- Why
- His family’s displacement during Partition and his Punjabi cultural background continued to influence his poetry, stories and lyrics.
- Birth name
- Sampooran Singh Kalra
- Birthplace
- Dina, a town in Jhelum district that is now in Pakistan
- Pen name
- Gulzar, meaning “garden” in Urdu
- Film debut as lyricist
- “Mora Gora Ang Laiye Le” for Bimal Roy’s Bandini in 1963
- Partition writing
- His experiences and family displacement inform Ravi Paar and Footprints on Zero Line – Writings on Partition
- Major international honor
- “Jai Ho” won Gulzar and A.R. Rahman a Grammy and an Oscar for Best Original Song in a Film
- Last directorial venture
- Hu Tu Tu, released in 1999