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.
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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
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*:((:((
Gulzar Saab is original and mostly does not need
inspiration to create something while Javed
Saab’s cinematic creations are extensions of his
experience of 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 in to entirely new
format, and Javed saab follows Panini’s grammer
to fit his imagination in to the traditional ways.
Gulzar saab is man of solitude and thus will work best with the person who is enjoying 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 its not his area.
In better words Javeed Saab’s work is “Sidharth” of Sudhir Mishra’s Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi and Gulzar saab’s work is best fitted to Vikram Malhotra’s journey of love in the film.
Gulzar saab’s poetry is love between Ajay Devgan
and Aiswarya Rai in Raincoat. Its symbolic, soft,
and silky and spiritual. Not necessarily Gulzar
saab’s creation gets less success in contemporary
time when Javed saab steals the lime light but
his creations have longer age than Javed Saab’s.
Both are good but they are different and their
creation is different.
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 its so long and to write correctly is really a hard work, why on earth you picked this so complex id? cant make it simple like you are?):-w
If its GS vs JS then perhaps 2-3 posts to cover
all their aspects. Comments section is not enough or that.
But just for sake of comments:
GS seems to take care of only class 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 always seen in designer clothes with mobile in hand
GS is Director as well while JS’s bounadries
spread tills 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 and abandoning him in childhood. And this Orphan feeling and thus generated anger has been part of all his film’s
heros, while GS’s sorrow of childhood is not concentrated but spread in so many other ways.
GS married and got separated 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 person.
GS did everything on his own, though he got
chance to assist Bimal Roy and sat with
Shailendra but noone promoted him
while JS found Salim Khan at right time.
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 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.
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 ”
मुझको भी तरकीब सिखा यार जुलाहे
अकसर तुझको देखा है कि ताना बुनते
जब कोइ तागा टुट गया या खत्म हुआ
फिर से बांध के
और सिरा कोई जोड़ के उसमे
आगे बुनने लगते हो
तेरे इस ताने में लेकिन
इक भी गांठ गिराह बुन्तर की
देख नहीं सकता कोई
मैनें तो ईक बार बुना था एक ही रिश्ता
लेकिन उसकी सारी गिराहे
साफ नजर आती हैं मेरे यार जुलाहे”
You will never find this imagination and way of telling the story of your own life.