Gulzar vs Javed Akhtar: Styles of poetry.
While I was watching Saawariya from Swades I realised something. The que of Javed Akhtar vs Gulzar can be seen in the following point of view.
Javed Akhtar always wrote songs about one feeling by writing things either connected to that feeling or other ways to define that particular feeling. Gulzar always creates a whole new concept about any feeling, as in his creativeness is a description through unusual examples.
For instance, in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha, Javed thinks of different things that might be used as definitions of his feelings when he saw the girl. ” Nachata Mor, Jaise, Resham Ki Dor……” and so on, same as in Saawariya he has taken feelings of butterflies in the stomach and related things to that feeling as in, “Chhalake Mann Gagariya, Kho gayee soodhboodh ki gathariya”.
Gulzar’s unusual creativity is very evident in Namakisk ka from Omkara, when it goes like, “Mein Chand Nigal Gayee” and then on the contrary of moon being so cool and calm the girl explains that “Bheetar aag jale, Baat karu to sek lage, Ang pe aise chhale pade”. The whole concept of swallowing calm moon and creating burns as after effects is an unusual concept which I do not think is Mr Akhtar’s style.
They both are good, but choice is always personal to anyone on how do he/she gets inclined to any one of those ways of expressions.
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
actually gulzar can get toooooo abstract at times. His lyrics can be for the ‘classes’ at times and a little hard to comprehend.
Additionally i do not think he has the ‘meter’ to fit the lyrics into music.
Javed sahib’s lyrics are simple, sweet and fit well into the music. He does have a lot of music sense that way
Methinks that Gulzar Saab is the Hussain of
lyrics’ writing… he writes what he feels like,
irrespective of the fact that people may or
may not understand his use of metaphors…
whereas Javed Saab is more in sync with the
age & times, the story, the charecters etc etc.
Both are legends in their own respective ways…
As a child I used to love Gulzar’s songs(lakdi ki kathi)
They made me cry,made me laugh(@ the same time)
I grew up with gulzar’s lyrics…they were beautiful,mystical and simply wonderful.
I enjoy his ladders of abstraction..
climbing them isn’t easy..but fun,all the same
Gulzar’s the best
Gulzar Saab is original and mostly he does not need
inspiration to create something while Javed
Saab’s cinematic creations are extensions of experience of his past. Gulzar saab shows a
detachment which is completely lost in case of
Javed Saab. Gulzar saab’s creation is action
based, Javed saab’s creation is reaction based.
Gulzar saab converts tradion into an entirely new
format, and Javed saab follows fixed grammer
to fit his imagination into the traditional ways.
Gulzar saab is man of solitude and thus will work best with the person who understands and enjoys solitude, and to understand and enjoy Gulzar saab to fullest one must understand solitude and difference between lonliness and being alone.
Gulzar saab can give visual depiction to
literature of Late Nirmal Verma but Javed saab
will be helpless there as it’s not his area.
In simple words Javeed Saab’s work is “Sidharth” of Sudhir Mishra’s Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi and Gulzar saab’s work is a best fit to Vikram Malhotra’s journey of love in the film.
Gulzar saab’s poetry is a love between Ajay Devgan
and Aiswarya Rai in Raincoat. It’s symbolic, soft,
and spiritual. No wonder Gulzar saab’s creation gets less success in contemporary time while Javed saab steals the lime light but his (GS) creations have longer age than Javed Saab’s.
Both are good but they are different and their
creations are different.
best part of gulzar i she never take care of junta.
gulzar hold on urdu is excellent and after saahir and shaildra,he is my personal fav.
sorry not she,he*:((:((
RK…wow!! now that is something.
I think Javedsaab is better poet than a lyricist. His poetry cease to exist when he writes lyrics. But Gulzarsaab’s poetry remains the same, even in lyrics.
N thats why javedsaab’s words r more comfortable with music. N its hard for the music to gel well with gulzarsaab’s words.
Javedsaab writes according the demands of the gilm. Gulzar’s lyrics reflects his own thought process n experince in similar situation.
Javed’s words have instant gratification. one big reason is because they r simple. Gulzar’s words always have layers to it. may take time to understand.
Me too thinks Gulzar is abstract at times…like u lose out on the beauty of the lyrics coz ur trying to figure out what he’s saying — e.g “ik baar waqt se lamha gira kahin, wahan dastaan mili….’ etc…
Phnx:(sorry it’s so long and to write correctly is really a hard work, why on earth you picked up this so complex id? cant make it simple like you are?):-w
If its GS vs JS then perhaps 2-3 posts are needed to cover all of their aspects. Comments section is not enough for that.
But just for the sake of comments:
GS seems to take care of class only but his real life is like masses, seen in ordinary crumpled kurtas
JS seems to be covering common man’s interests but
in real life he is always seen in designer clothes with mobile in hands.
GS is Director as well while JS’s bounadries
are spread till writing screen play only and beyond that he is dependent on the directors. GS is independent.
GS suffered from partition, JS suffered from his
father’s second marriage. his father abandoned him in childhood only. And this Orphan feeling and consequrent anger have been parts of lives of all his (film’s) heros, while GS’s sorrow of childhood is not concentrated but spread in so many other ways.
GS married but got separated (not leggaly but personally) from her actress wife Rakhee within 2 years of marriage. But he did not marry again.
JS, married Honey Irani and separated and again married Shabana Azami the actress.
So GS’s lover is dissolved in his poetry and is spread all over,
while JS’s love poetry is targeted and thus
limited to the person.
JS has attraction in social activism, GS is interested in artistic works only. and this is visible in their characters also.
JS’s angry young man and other characters
try to overpower others while GS’s characters
just live their own life, and thus JS’s filmi attempts are loud while GS’s filmi attempts are subtle and better stories to see.
same difference is there in their poetry also.
Though at times GS shows that if he likes he can
also provide Chaiyan Chaiyan, Goli Mar bheje mein
and Beedi jalaye le or Kajrare etc.
and to sum up:
Gulzar saab works wonderfully with deep interest
for kids and understands their pyschology.
This factor gives him edge over all other
lyricists, script writers, authors and directors.
I agree with RK , the genius of gulzar is not only becoz he can write
‘yaadon ki baucharon se jab palke bhigne lagti hain’
but in an omkara he writes with a western up touch using words like daraanti and kataar.
and also the much loved ‘ jungle jungle baat chali hai .. pata chala hai’
Jateen thanks for bringing forth this great topic.
RK – Amazing analysis and a great breakdown, especially drawing the parrallels from their lives to their lyrics to the way they write characters/films. Awesome man!
I have a great deal of respect for both Gulzar-saab and Javed-saab. The poetry, lyrics, characters and screenplays of both men is equally brilliant, but appeal in a diverse way, to diverse sections of our sentiments.
Javed saab manifests emotions in a more existential manner, based more on relating to experiences, and thus appeals to our more extroverted side. His writings are more expressive, and thus help bring feelings out.
For example, Javed saab’s many famous angry young men characters channel and unleash their anger and frustration rather than having it simmer inside. A prime example is Lakshya, where he takes an internal conflict (finding ones purpose in life) and manifests it externally (finding that purpose by fighting for your country). The central characters of Arjun, Meri Jung, Trishul and others all had internal conflicts and pent up emotions which, when brought out, drove them into action.
Similarly his lyrics bring out and channel emotions, such as “Yeh Tara Woh Tara” from Swades which talks of uniting to bring prosperity, while “Jaane Kyun Log Pyar Karte Hain” from Dil Chahta Hai questions why people give love so much importance.
Gulzar-saab appeals to our more inner emotions, often leading us into introspect. He takes a deeper look at what’s behind the emotions. Be it “Parichay”, “Bawarchi”, “Mere Apne”, “Anand”, “Lekin” or “Maachis”, his films written by Gulzar often led us to explore inner worlds, leading us inside the characters minds and giving us a deeper understanding of what’s behind a characters motivations, or the emotions behind the conflict.
This is also reflected in his lyrics, which often describe the depth of our innermost feelings. “Jiya Jale Jaan Jale” from Dil Se, “Yaara Sili Sili” from Lekin (with hauntingly beautiful lines like “Yeh bhi koi jeena hai, yeh bhi koi marna…”) and my personal favorites “Woh Shaam Kuch Ajeeb Thi” from Khamoshi and “Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaaye” from Anand take us by the hand in lead us deep into thoughts about life.
I know in my attempts to make a basic comparison between the two great writers I’ve perhaps over-simplified they’re styles, themes and bodies of work. Please forgive me for that, it’s tough not to get carried away while analyzing the works of such great artists.
GulzarbSaab’s can write simple lyrics. He has done it past, for example, Khataa Meetha, and recently Jaan-e-man. Where he even wrote a ‘Hinglish’ song – ‘Humko Maloom Hain’. Also he understands that language is progressive.
“Yeh Jeena Hai Angoor Ka Daana…Kuch Kacha Hai Kuch Pakka Hai…Jitna Khaya Meetha Tha Jo Haath Na Aaya Woh Khatta Hai.”
Gulzar’s lyrics are very pertinent to the movie’s context.
One can literally whiff Kashmir while listening “Uruzu urzoroor kut” from Yahaan.
“Hamko maloom hai,kubool karle,jane ke jaane na” from Jaaneman;
“Goli maar bheje main,Sapne main milta hai” from Satya;
“Yeh Raat,Gunaah karle” from Aks;…(not exhaustive)are all examples of songs very rooted in movie’s context.
Gulzar any day, Javed Akhtar writes lyrics which are very superficial, you hear them once and you are like all right i get it, but Gulzar is a genuis, you can hear his song a million number of time and you still wont understand it completely, i think this also roots from the fact that Gulzars work has an arrogance, he is writing for himself, which makes it better because then you know its honest, and not just Gulzar, most great artist have many layers to there work.
Both are good in their own rights. For me growing up in a Urdu speaking household, I sometimes felt that Gulzar use to to,, how to say it, mutilates words to state his point. With Javed it a case of just leaving things simple.
Its more due to commercial reasons that they are so well known today. There have been better poets who are no longer around in the cinema world. Name a few Sahir Ludhianvi, Kaifi Aazmi, Majrooh Sultanpuri etc.
I wont put both of them in the Great Lyricist category
I wouldn’t agree with Muzzy that ‘Gulzar mutilates words to state his point’ …Unless you experiment with the language, how can new expressions be born.
How can you write a song/feeling without feeling it urself.Gulzar just does that.He places himself in the character’s boots and expresses himself.
He experiments with the words to express.After all this is what language is.This is what innovation and creativity is.
There can be only one Gulzar – no comparison possible. A complete director, a complete lyricist, a complete story writer and above all a complete institution by himself.
Javed Akhtar? I do not think he has any standing without Salim Khan? No qualities of an institution. Has massive identity crisis – which is why you see him on Indian Idol et all.
Viraha Ke Do Roop :
Gulzar in “Ishqa Ishqa” (2002)
raakh se rookhi, koyale se kaali
raat kaTe na, virahaa wali
(in ‘tere ishq mein’)
Javed Akhtar in L.O.C. (2003) (Almost on same meter)
barf se thandi, koyale se kaali
tum bin hogi har diwali
(in ’suno jaane wale laut ke aana’)
It’s really difficult to decide who’s better betn 2 true legends. The 1st +ve to jaaved saab is that he has written “sholay” yaar. Who can forget the perfect one liner conversations betn the characters especially when jay meets mausiji, gabbar’s roaring dialogues which created many trends. But at the same time gulzar is better poet. The trio of mani, gs and ar rehman just creates masster peices. Many says gulzar saab’s words r diificult to understand but infact they are even simpler and he just want to use only those words which ground level ppl in india use and for us it might seem difficult!! E.g. “Dil hai chota sa..”; “aati hui lehro pe jaati hui ladki” etc. In fact the GULZAR SAAB IS 100% BETTER THAN ANY OTHER..
i suppose i’v lived with gulzar saab’s words they actually an abstract meaning to things which are unusaul but according to people are very basic….and ofcrse even javed saab has his own way of projectng things but i breath gulzar lyrices its just how u touch someone’s feelng through words and trust me gulzar saab is the only one…..
Phele aap hindi ko samjhoo, Phir kavita aur gaanoo ka antar samjahoo. Uske baad Hindi samjhoo aur alfazzoo ko pakdoo tab samajh mein aayegaa kaun behtar hai.
AAj hindi samajh mein kisse aati hai bas bolni aati hai woo bhi aadhi angrejoo wali.
Imagine these poems from gulzzar ” Hawaoo pe likh do Hawaa ke naam.Woo Udthe panchi batta, kaha se hai aaya, kiske liye yeah surila payam” sung by Kishore daa. Does Javed Akthar have this imagination? Another example is :- “Mera kuch saman tumhaare pass pada hai” sung by Lata mangeskar. Omkara movie.”Din kuch aise gujarat hai koi” jagjit singh.
If have doubts read this ”
मà¥à¤à¤•à¥‹ à¤à¥€ तरकीब सिखा यार जà¥à¤²à¤¾à¤¹à¥‡
अकसर तà¥à¤à¤•à¥‹ देखा है कि ताना बà¥à¤¨à¤¤à¥‡
जब कोइ तागा टà¥à¤Ÿ गया या खतà¥à¤® हà¥à¤†
फिर से बांध के
और सिरा कोई जोड़ के उसमे
आगे बà¥à¤¨à¤¨à¥‡ लगते हो
तेरे इस ताने में लेकिन
इक à¤à¥€ गांठगिराह बà¥à¤¨à¥à¤¤à¤° की
देख नहीं सकता कोई
मैनें तो ईक बार बà¥à¤¨à¤¾ था à¤à¤• ही रिशà¥à¤¤à¤¾
लेकिन उसकी सारी गिराहे
साफ नजर आती हैं मेरे यार जà¥à¤²à¤¾à¤¹à¥‡”
You will never find this imagination and way of telling the story of your own life.
Both gulzar and javed akhtar are great artists.Gulzarsaab’s poetry is mystic as well as philosophically superior than javedsaab.
IN SIMPLE AND SHORT WORDS ” GULZARSAAB IS LIKE GAALIB AND JAVEDSAAB IS LIKE IBRAHIM ZAUK OF OUR AGE (WE ARE SO PROUD OF THEM)
The difference of the two is GS is a search that goes within the self that is like a saint do and JS is like a teacher do who just have books for his source not the journey of his own.
Its Javed Akhtar n Gulzar Saa’b frends. Dat how they shud be known. I dont think we even need to compare there poetic skills. Gulzar saa’b outdo Mr. Javed Akhtar hands down when you are talkin bout “Poetry”. Lemme just talk a bit bout the “commercialised” lyrics we see today which are the forte of Mr. Akhtar. Gulzar Saa’b has shown dat he can beat down anyone in dat category too. Remember Chaiyya Chaiyya, Jungle Jungle baat chali hae, Namak ishq ka, Beedi jalai le n numerous others. N if u will listen to dem carefully, u’ll realise dat besides bein more “commercialised”, the poetic beauty has not been compromised. Lines like “Taveez bana ke pehne use aayat ki tarah mil jaye kahin” are the livin proof. N wat has Mr. Akhtar has written?? Sapbno ke din hae, sapno ki raatein, wheres the party tonight.. Huh!!!! See guys, a poet is a poet.. Watever he does, or writes will alwaz have sum shades of the creativity he has.. That wat we call an artist.. Now i guess you know wat iam sayin..
Gulzar Saa’b anyday over dat over rated hyped commercialised shayar..
If my life was at stake and there was one Hindi lyricist I had to pick it would be Gulzar. His collaborations with Vishal Bharadwaj and AR Rahman gave us some of the best songs of the recent past. I am really impressed by Prasoon Joshi’s work for Delhi-6.
Gulzar Saab..simply the best we have today..his poetry is deep and u just fall in love with the words…great..