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Actually ... I Met Them: A Memoir
Personal. Intimate. Deeply moving.An absolutely unputdownable memoir.
Do memories ever fade away? They never 'dry up', says Gulzar Saab, 'They keep floating somewhere between the conscious and the subconscious mind. It's a great feeling to swim there sometime. Pick up a few bubbly moments and cherish them again.'
From Bimal Roy to Satyajit Ray, R.D. Burman, Kishore Kumar, Ritwik Ghatak, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Mahasweta Devi and Samaresh Basu, among others, in this fascinating book, Gulzar Saab goes down memory lane to bring to light his relationship with the doyens of cinema, music and literature, who he had known and worked with over a long period of time. In his words, 'It seems like a dream when I revisit my memories of such great gurus and colleagues, and I feel overwhelmed that I have really interacted with them. I have to pinch myself on realizing that actually . . . I met them.'Chatty, anecdotal and deeply personal, this book of memories will chronicle Gulzar Saab's life and career through different eras of Indian cinema as he successfully transcended commercial and critical arts. Studded with rare photographs, Actually .. I Met Them will be a treat for his huge and devoted fan base.
178 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 18, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 10, 2021
Actually ..... I Met Them, a memoir by Gulzar, translated from Bengali by Maharghya Chakraborty, a must have for every reader / person who loves and is fond of the legend, Gulzar and his work.
In this memoir, Gulzar takes us down his memory lane and his life journey through some instances and memories of some of the very prominent names from the Cinema, Literature & Music industry.
We get to read about his relationship and personal anecdotes with personalities like Bimal Roy, Salil Chowdhury, Satyajit Ray, Kishor Kumar, Suchitra Sen, Sharmila Tagore and many others.
We go through his career and instance of his music journey as well as when he went to various shoots for films like Kabuliwalah, Kitaab, Khamoshi, etc. We also get to see some of emotions as well as personal instances in this book along with some unseen photographs.
In this memoir, Gulzar takes us down his memory lane and his life journey through some instances and memories of some of the very prominent names from the Cinema, Literature & Music industry.
We get to read about his relationship and personal anecdotes with personalities like Bimal Roy, Salil Chowdhury, Satyajit Ray, Kishor Kumar, Suchitra Sen, Sharmila Tagore and many others.
We go through his career and instance of his music journey as well as when he went to various shoots for films like Kabuliwalah, Kitaab, Khamoshi, etc. We also get to see some of emotions as well as personal instances in this book along with some unseen photographs.
December 10, 2021
I was eagerly looking forward to Gulzar saab’s memoir since its announcement. I was expecting a tome of memories, songs, and relationships to come my way. I was but of course disappointed to then see that it was a memoir of only 176 pages and that too character sketches of people Gulzar saab was close to.
People also for a very large part make up a memoir. The people one interacts with shapes the trajectory of life. So, in that case sure they are a part of a memoir, but can a book of character sketches based on experiences with those people alone be called a memoir is something I am still pondering about. Maybe, yes. Actually, yes.
I wanted to love this book, but I only liked it, and that too in bits and pieces. Most of the stories and anecdotes can be found by Googling. Yes, it is different when Gulzar saab writes about it, but after a point it just didn’t work for me.
He speaks fondly about people who shaped his life and his craft – the ones who inspired me, the ones he was in awe of, and the ones he misses and loved the most. From R.D. Burman to Kishore Kumar to Satyajit Ray and Suchitra Sen, not to forget Sanjeev Kumar and Sharmila Tagore, Gulzar saab speaks of them all – how it was to work with them to how he addressed them, their eccentricities, how they made the films they did, and what these people meant to him. There are twenty-one or more people mentioned in the book, and how his life was lived to some extent with them acting as enablers.
Actually…I Met Them is written is true Gulzar saab manner – candid, emotional, and funny. Like I said, I was expecting a lot more, but didn’t get that. I will listen to his songs now and hope there are more memoirs in store for us.
People also for a very large part make up a memoir. The people one interacts with shapes the trajectory of life. So, in that case sure they are a part of a memoir, but can a book of character sketches based on experiences with those people alone be called a memoir is something I am still pondering about. Maybe, yes. Actually, yes.
I wanted to love this book, but I only liked it, and that too in bits and pieces. Most of the stories and anecdotes can be found by Googling. Yes, it is different when Gulzar saab writes about it, but after a point it just didn’t work for me.
He speaks fondly about people who shaped his life and his craft – the ones who inspired me, the ones he was in awe of, and the ones he misses and loved the most. From R.D. Burman to Kishore Kumar to Satyajit Ray and Suchitra Sen, not to forget Sanjeev Kumar and Sharmila Tagore, Gulzar saab speaks of them all – how it was to work with them to how he addressed them, their eccentricities, how they made the films they did, and what these people meant to him. There are twenty-one or more people mentioned in the book, and how his life was lived to some extent with them acting as enablers.
Actually…I Met Them is written is true Gulzar saab manner – candid, emotional, and funny. Like I said, I was expecting a lot more, but didn’t get that. I will listen to his songs now and hope there are more memoirs in store for us.
June 26, 2022
What a lovely breezy book.
This book is not a memoir. Instead it is a recollection of Gulzar's interactions with the many people he worked with, especially during the beginning of his career.
The tales are funny, heartwarming, even sad at times, but also quite self-aware. Gulzar's voice is retained, even in translation. You can almost hear him say the things written. I wish there was more of Rakhee, but that is also just my demand as a petulant reader.
Initially a column on a Bengali newspaper, the collected works were translated and compiled into a book.
This book is not a memoir. Instead it is a recollection of Gulzar's interactions with the many people he worked with, especially during the beginning of his career.
The tales are funny, heartwarming, even sad at times, but also quite self-aware. Gulzar's voice is retained, even in translation. You can almost hear him say the things written. I wish there was more of Rakhee, but that is also just my demand as a petulant reader.
Initially a column on a Bengali newspaper, the collected works were translated and compiled into a book.
December 16, 2021
READ HERE: https://soundingwords.blogspot.com/20...
In his memoir, Actually… I Met Them, Gulzar Saab recollects hauntingly beautiful memories of his people ─ mentors, peers, and colleagues who have left an impact on his soul.
‘The artistic landscape is made up of diversity of talents. There will always be those who are nomads, radiant with talent, and transient like comets. We must learn to accept such people on their own terms.’
Basically, this memoir-ish book is a collection of 18 articles. Each chapter is a celebration itself. It begins with Bimal Roy, his first mentor who eventually becomes a father-figure to him.
Gulzar Saab initiates this chapter by describing his love for Bengali language and how it paves his path into the cinema world, ‘I had a separate personal interest in Bimal Roy’s works. Since most of his films were adaptations of Bengali literature and I was a literature nerd through and through.’
He goes on to talk about his Bengali friends, who tempted him to start learning the language. Twist came when he was sent off to Bombay, where his elder brother used to live and ‘it was perhaps to ensure I learnt how to make living and not waste my life away on trivialities’ writes Gulzar. Things were not as they seemed, and he moved out of his brother’s place.
Gulzar Saab illumines about the pivotal moment when he was offered work in films and he refused, but after meeting with Bimal Da, he took a chance. He takes us along on a journey through his experiences. He writes about the first sight of Bimal Da, ‘Such a decidedly simple and unassuming man that for a moment my heart did not know how to react’.
‘He worked on every such sequence with so much attention to detail that they become exemplary. He was a man whose life revolved around cinema, he lived and breathed films,’ he added.
The moment that moves me the most is when he revisits the last days of Bimal Da, ‘Few days of fever, a few days of being unwell, and then it was as if someone had plunged a dagger into our hearts.’
‘Bimal Da seemed to have shrunk, gotten smaller, like a cushion on sofa, I was not a hero, I could not stand seeing him that way…
…8 January 1966, with his passing, all the pain that I had stowed away for my father seemed for find closure, it was the day of the ritual bath of Purna Kumbh.’
I am in awe of words and images that he has picked to depict these real life characters. The second chapter is on Salil Chowdhury, a member of the communist party of India, and a music composer, ‘The kind of intoxication and energy that bursts forth when you shake and uncork a bottle of champagne – Salil Da was that kind of a person.’
Gulzar Saab observed tiniest details that shows his deep affection towards him, ‘I realized that he was extremely indolent. He loved playing carom, could always be found busy around the ping pong table, always ready to do anything except his own work. But then he touched a piano or a harmonium and music would spill over like nectar! Oh! Such a genius, yet how could he live like that?’
Hemant Da was a singer, a composer and a film producer as well. Emotion is what oozes through pages while reading about him. The imprints of his memories seem still fresh, ‘Bimal Roy passed away, leaving us, his boys, to fend for ourselves like orphans. And Hemanta Da stepped onto the scene, with that gigantic heart of his that was so full of courage, generosity and love.’
Gulzar Saab firmly believes that you are nothing without your memories. The anecdote he shared from Khamoshi had me in thrall – Hamne Dekhi Hai In Aankhon Ki Mehakti Khushboo – I wrote the song, and Hemant Da composed an exquisite tune for it, and then dropped a bomb as he declared, ‘Lata will sing the song’ ‘the song is about a man’s emotion, how can it be sung by a woman?’ He includes ‘that is the magic of Hemanta Da’s music and his powers of observation.’
If memories are brushstrokes, then Gulzar Saab paints a canvas full of longing. He shares a resounding memory, ‘You take this tune, Gullu. No one else will take it, they won’t understand it.’ This dialogue is taken from the chapter on Pancham, and the song is Chhoti si kahani se baarishon ke paani se..’
Rahul Dev Burman, who was famous for making music out of Pawan Chakkis and running trains, ‘Anything different would attract him. If there’s such a thing with Pancham’s gharana then perhaps it would comprise his experimental works.’
Gulzar Saab holds the wealth of memories of Pancham Da, and he gladly submerges into them, ‘Anger, sorrow, dejection, hurt feelings, a sharp break in creativity – where could one expect to find Pancham during such times? The kitchen.’
The first time Gulzar worked with Pancham was in Parichay. The first song was Musafir Hoon Yaaron, ‘Silent communication existed between us, is that what they call chemistry?’
Gulzar Saab captures few hilarious anecdotes in bits and pieces, for instance, while creating Mera Kuch Samaan, Pancham said ‘Gullu, tomorrow you’ll ask me to set the morning newspaper to music’ but he composed the song, and the rest is history.
‘Pancham left us way too soon, didn’t he? Of course, he used to always be in hurry. He would pour water into the cup of tea to cool it and drink that while tinkering with a tune on the harmonium.’
He secured a place in my heart by telling about his kinship with Pancham Da in such dignified manner. I underlined pages and pages, It would be so comforting to revisit them someday.
The way this memoir is presented to readers, it seemed more like reading a gripping fiction. Each chapter contains information but with definite structure and stunning prose, just like a short story which engulfs you with its beginning, middle and comforting end.
In the next article, he speaks about Kishore Da, ‘A mad genius – a person evoking feelings of irritation while simultaneously also commanding respect.’
Did you know that Kishore Da was all set to play the protagonist in Anand? It didn’t work out though. This chapter is full of giggles and tender moments. Gulzar Saab ends this piece with a pristine thought on him, ‘Perhaps he used to believe fairy tales were real, magic carpets too. And he wished to live his life by those very truths.’
Reading this memoir opens a window to understand Gulzar as a person. What really stuns me is his gentle way of showing gratitude towards artists. These reflections need to be savoured rather than analyzed.
Gulzar Saab also includes Sanjeev Kumar, Mahasweta Devi, Suchitra Sen, Sharmila Tagore, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Samaresh Basu, Ritwick ghatak and more. I wanted to cover all personalities as it would kill the charm of exploring this journey. Though, I would like to mention the piece on Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, It touched me the most and filled me with possibilities and hope ‘the speciality of his voice, what we call timbre, was exquisite.’
This memoir is not about filmmaking tools or his formulae of lyrics writing but an honest documentation of reminisces as if Gulzar Saab is speaking to a friend on an evening walk.
Honestly, I am too wrecked to write about such treasure, it surely deserves long-length discussion with G-mitra (A group created by Pavan Jha, for those friends who meditated on Gulzar’s words).
Here, I would like to mention that Gulzar Saab shared these recollections with Sanchari Mukherjee for a Bengali newspaper. The compilations of those narratives, was first published as ‘Panta Bhate’ in Bengali. Now it has been translated from the Bangla to English by Maharghya Chakraborty, in the first person narrated by Gulzar.
‘It seems like a dream when I revisit my memories of such great gurus and colleagues, and I feel overwhelmed that I have really interacted with them. I have to pinch myself on realizing that actually . . . I met them.'
P.S. Actually… I Met Them was published by Penguin Random House and I can’t be grateful enough to Gulzar Saab and Pavan Jha (Da) for this gifted copy.
In his memoir, Actually… I Met Them, Gulzar Saab recollects hauntingly beautiful memories of his people ─ mentors, peers, and colleagues who have left an impact on his soul.
‘The artistic landscape is made up of diversity of talents. There will always be those who are nomads, radiant with talent, and transient like comets. We must learn to accept such people on their own terms.’
Basically, this memoir-ish book is a collection of 18 articles. Each chapter is a celebration itself. It begins with Bimal Roy, his first mentor who eventually becomes a father-figure to him.
Gulzar Saab initiates this chapter by describing his love for Bengali language and how it paves his path into the cinema world, ‘I had a separate personal interest in Bimal Roy’s works. Since most of his films were adaptations of Bengali literature and I was a literature nerd through and through.’
He goes on to talk about his Bengali friends, who tempted him to start learning the language. Twist came when he was sent off to Bombay, where his elder brother used to live and ‘it was perhaps to ensure I learnt how to make living and not waste my life away on trivialities’ writes Gulzar. Things were not as they seemed, and he moved out of his brother’s place.
Gulzar Saab illumines about the pivotal moment when he was offered work in films and he refused, but after meeting with Bimal Da, he took a chance. He takes us along on a journey through his experiences. He writes about the first sight of Bimal Da, ‘Such a decidedly simple and unassuming man that for a moment my heart did not know how to react’.
‘He worked on every such sequence with so much attention to detail that they become exemplary. He was a man whose life revolved around cinema, he lived and breathed films,’ he added.
The moment that moves me the most is when he revisits the last days of Bimal Da, ‘Few days of fever, a few days of being unwell, and then it was as if someone had plunged a dagger into our hearts.’
‘Bimal Da seemed to have shrunk, gotten smaller, like a cushion on sofa, I was not a hero, I could not stand seeing him that way…
…8 January 1966, with his passing, all the pain that I had stowed away for my father seemed for find closure, it was the day of the ritual bath of Purna Kumbh.’
I am in awe of words and images that he has picked to depict these real life characters. The second chapter is on Salil Chowdhury, a member of the communist party of India, and a music composer, ‘The kind of intoxication and energy that bursts forth when you shake and uncork a bottle of champagne – Salil Da was that kind of a person.’
Gulzar Saab observed tiniest details that shows his deep affection towards him, ‘I realized that he was extremely indolent. He loved playing carom, could always be found busy around the ping pong table, always ready to do anything except his own work. But then he touched a piano or a harmonium and music would spill over like nectar! Oh! Such a genius, yet how could he live like that?’
Hemant Da was a singer, a composer and a film producer as well. Emotion is what oozes through pages while reading about him. The imprints of his memories seem still fresh, ‘Bimal Roy passed away, leaving us, his boys, to fend for ourselves like orphans. And Hemanta Da stepped onto the scene, with that gigantic heart of his that was so full of courage, generosity and love.’
Gulzar Saab firmly believes that you are nothing without your memories. The anecdote he shared from Khamoshi had me in thrall – Hamne Dekhi Hai In Aankhon Ki Mehakti Khushboo – I wrote the song, and Hemant Da composed an exquisite tune for it, and then dropped a bomb as he declared, ‘Lata will sing the song’ ‘the song is about a man’s emotion, how can it be sung by a woman?’ He includes ‘that is the magic of Hemanta Da’s music and his powers of observation.’
If memories are brushstrokes, then Gulzar Saab paints a canvas full of longing. He shares a resounding memory, ‘You take this tune, Gullu. No one else will take it, they won’t understand it.’ This dialogue is taken from the chapter on Pancham, and the song is Chhoti si kahani se baarishon ke paani se..’
Rahul Dev Burman, who was famous for making music out of Pawan Chakkis and running trains, ‘Anything different would attract him. If there’s such a thing with Pancham’s gharana then perhaps it would comprise his experimental works.’
Gulzar Saab holds the wealth of memories of Pancham Da, and he gladly submerges into them, ‘Anger, sorrow, dejection, hurt feelings, a sharp break in creativity – where could one expect to find Pancham during such times? The kitchen.’
The first time Gulzar worked with Pancham was in Parichay. The first song was Musafir Hoon Yaaron, ‘Silent communication existed between us, is that what they call chemistry?’
Gulzar Saab captures few hilarious anecdotes in bits and pieces, for instance, while creating Mera Kuch Samaan, Pancham said ‘Gullu, tomorrow you’ll ask me to set the morning newspaper to music’ but he composed the song, and the rest is history.
‘Pancham left us way too soon, didn’t he? Of course, he used to always be in hurry. He would pour water into the cup of tea to cool it and drink that while tinkering with a tune on the harmonium.’
He secured a place in my heart by telling about his kinship with Pancham Da in such dignified manner. I underlined pages and pages, It would be so comforting to revisit them someday.
The way this memoir is presented to readers, it seemed more like reading a gripping fiction. Each chapter contains information but with definite structure and stunning prose, just like a short story which engulfs you with its beginning, middle and comforting end.
In the next article, he speaks about Kishore Da, ‘A mad genius – a person evoking feelings of irritation while simultaneously also commanding respect.’
Did you know that Kishore Da was all set to play the protagonist in Anand? It didn’t work out though. This chapter is full of giggles and tender moments. Gulzar Saab ends this piece with a pristine thought on him, ‘Perhaps he used to believe fairy tales were real, magic carpets too. And he wished to live his life by those very truths.’
Reading this memoir opens a window to understand Gulzar as a person. What really stuns me is his gentle way of showing gratitude towards artists. These reflections need to be savoured rather than analyzed.
Gulzar Saab also includes Sanjeev Kumar, Mahasweta Devi, Suchitra Sen, Sharmila Tagore, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Samaresh Basu, Ritwick ghatak and more. I wanted to cover all personalities as it would kill the charm of exploring this journey. Though, I would like to mention the piece on Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, It touched me the most and filled me with possibilities and hope ‘the speciality of his voice, what we call timbre, was exquisite.’
This memoir is not about filmmaking tools or his formulae of lyrics writing but an honest documentation of reminisces as if Gulzar Saab is speaking to a friend on an evening walk.
Honestly, I am too wrecked to write about such treasure, it surely deserves long-length discussion with G-mitra (A group created by Pavan Jha, for those friends who meditated on Gulzar’s words).
Here, I would like to mention that Gulzar Saab shared these recollections with Sanchari Mukherjee for a Bengali newspaper. The compilations of those narratives, was first published as ‘Panta Bhate’ in Bengali. Now it has been translated from the Bangla to English by Maharghya Chakraborty, in the first person narrated by Gulzar.
‘It seems like a dream when I revisit my memories of such great gurus and colleagues, and I feel overwhelmed that I have really interacted with them. I have to pinch myself on realizing that actually . . . I met them.'
P.S. Actually… I Met Them was published by Penguin Random House and I can’t be grateful enough to Gulzar Saab and Pavan Jha (Da) for this gifted copy.
January 4, 2022
Because I have read his many biographical works, this time the experience is not too enriching nor novel. As always a problem with compilation of columns has it, there is no link and neither a flow that keeps you glued. Tales told here, are mostly repeated in other books as well. And the language is not too absorbing, despite the fact it is written in first person. (Lost in translation?) But as always, it's always a joy to read him telling his tales. This time memories are written specific to each person, makes you feel you are watching Gulzar's memorable works taking shape in front of your eyes.
February 3, 2022
A very interesting collection of the poet's personal experiences with the talent from the film industry. Came to know quite a few unknown facts..
Lovers of Hindi/Bangla films must read this book.
Lovers of Hindi/Bangla films must read this book.
August 7, 2022
Compiled by Sanchari Mukherjee and written in first person (Gulzar saheb), this book is all about memories that never faded away. Reminiscences of Gulzar saheb, of and about, those who touched him deeply and permanently. From his guru Bimal Roy to friends and acquaintances like Suchitra Sen, Bhimsen Joshi, Mahasweta Devi, Haribhai, Satyajit Ray et al, this book covers them all in a very short concise manner. Just few memories here and anecdotes there. I wish it was longer and I wish it was penned by him but irrespective, it is a well done book. A quick 3-4 hour read.
November 8, 2021
Very interesting book, but does not tell us much about Gulzar himself.
Wish there were more chapters and stories about more people.
Wish there were more chapters and stories about more people.
December 13, 2021
When it comes to Gulzar sahab, I can never stop at one- one nazm, one song, one interview or even one book! So, keeping up with my own practice, I picked up one of his memoirs- 'Actually… I met them'.
A compilation of Gulzar's interview with Sanchari Mukherjee (to whom this book is dedicated), later published as a Bengali book named 'Pantabhate', this one is translated into English by Maharghya Chakraborty. However, I got to know about this only in the foreword of this book, else I would have gladly read the original! Nonetheless, the translation does complete justice to his memories of the many stalwarts he had worked with in his vast career.
Starting with Bimal Roy, the book shares Gulzar sahab's memories and working equation with Salil Chowdhury, Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, Satyajit Ray, Uttam Kumar, Kishore Kumar, Rahul Dev Burman, Sanjeev Kumar, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Samaresh Basu, Basu Bhattacharya, Ritwik Ghatak, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Mahasweta Devi, Suchitra Sen, Tarun Majumdar and Sharmila Tagore.
So many funny anecdotes, emotional experiences and intimate details make this an absolutely unputdownable memoir (received the Amazon delivery at 10 in the morning, and writing this at 10 at night!)
December rains in Kolkata, my cozy bed and blanket, 2 books on Gulzar sahab's life and legacy… it was indeed a weekend to remember..!
A compilation of Gulzar's interview with Sanchari Mukherjee (to whom this book is dedicated), later published as a Bengali book named 'Pantabhate', this one is translated into English by Maharghya Chakraborty. However, I got to know about this only in the foreword of this book, else I would have gladly read the original! Nonetheless, the translation does complete justice to his memories of the many stalwarts he had worked with in his vast career.
Starting with Bimal Roy, the book shares Gulzar sahab's memories and working equation with Salil Chowdhury, Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, Satyajit Ray, Uttam Kumar, Kishore Kumar, Rahul Dev Burman, Sanjeev Kumar, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Samaresh Basu, Basu Bhattacharya, Ritwik Ghatak, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Mahasweta Devi, Suchitra Sen, Tarun Majumdar and Sharmila Tagore.
So many funny anecdotes, emotional experiences and intimate details make this an absolutely unputdownable memoir (received the Amazon delivery at 10 in the morning, and writing this at 10 at night!)
December rains in Kolkata, my cozy bed and blanket, 2 books on Gulzar sahab's life and legacy… it was indeed a weekend to remember..!
April 11, 2022
Gulzar Sa’ab for one needs no introduction as his body of work has spoken time and again of his brilliance. He comes from the golden era that produced India’s finest artists who took Indian cinema to greater heights. His direction and writing skills have enthralled the audience for decades and how!
In his memoir ‘Actually…I Met Them’, he recounts the space, shared with the likes of Bimal Roy, Satyajit Ray, Suchitra Sen, and others, predominantly the Bengali ‘manush’ of the industry. Part influenced, part awe-struck, Gulzar Sa’ab went on to share a great professional camaraderie with the mentioned.
The book however lacks the depth and the meat I was otherwise looking for. Had it not been for Sanjeev Kumar mentioned in his memoir, I would have probably given this a pass. (Also, it’s a digitally signed copy by the legend himself, so..!) 📚
In his memoir ‘Actually…I Met Them’, he recounts the space, shared with the likes of Bimal Roy, Satyajit Ray, Suchitra Sen, and others, predominantly the Bengali ‘manush’ of the industry. Part influenced, part awe-struck, Gulzar Sa’ab went on to share a great professional camaraderie with the mentioned.
The book however lacks the depth and the meat I was otherwise looking for. Had it not been for Sanjeev Kumar mentioned in his memoir, I would have probably given this a pass. (Also, it’s a digitally signed copy by the legend himself, so..!) 📚
July 24, 2022
Actually…I Met Them is like a fresh breeze while reading I felt as if Gulzar Saab is sitting in front of me and reading to me, I really enjoyed it, wasn’t expecting this from a memoir but I am glad I read it. All the chapters are about legends of film/music industry to get to know them from lens of Gulzar was very self satisfying .
Pandit Bhimsen joshi incident was funniest. The incident with Mahasweta Devi was very beautiful very surreal and pure. Aandhi is one my favourite classic films and I was amazed to read about it, that was very new and fascinating. Kishore da the mad genius chapter had me in tears. So many legends the book is very special. I wish to read more about Rakhee Ji but the part which is in it is very beautifully written.
The book really made my Sunday thanks Gulzar Saab.
Pandit Bhimsen joshi incident was funniest. The incident with Mahasweta Devi was very beautiful very surreal and pure. Aandhi is one my favourite classic films and I was amazed to read about it, that was very new and fascinating. Kishore da the mad genius chapter had me in tears. So many legends the book is very special. I wish to read more about Rakhee Ji but the part which is in it is very beautifully written.
The book really made my Sunday thanks Gulzar Saab.
December 19, 2021
I have tremendous respect and admiration for Gulzar for his multi faceted personality. He is a talent powerhouse for sure!
We have grown up watching his movies and humming songs he has written. Also read his books.
Actually I met them is a recollection of his memories of the stalwarts of the Hindi and Bengali film industry and his personal and professional equation with them.
In 2-3 pages, he gives an insight of mostly an unknown trait of the personality he is talking about. They range from Bimal Kumar to Sharmila Tagore. He also gives a glimpse of his own personal life through these pages. Best one was his memories of RD Burman (also known as Pancham) The last para made me really emotional.
A fast paced and quick read.
We have grown up watching his movies and humming songs he has written. Also read his books.
Actually I met them is a recollection of his memories of the stalwarts of the Hindi and Bengali film industry and his personal and professional equation with them.
In 2-3 pages, he gives an insight of mostly an unknown trait of the personality he is talking about. They range from Bimal Kumar to Sharmila Tagore. He also gives a glimpse of his own personal life through these pages. Best one was his memories of RD Burman (also known as Pancham) The last para made me really emotional.
A fast paced and quick read.
January 8, 2022
I was excited to read this. I won't say I am disappointed but I expected a bit more. I enjoyed the anecdotes, specially the ones in Kishore Kumar and R.D. Burman's chapters... absolutely loved it.
But this was kind of ... abrupt. And quick.
A quick read. Maybe ye dil maange more....details :) because who doesn't want to read about the times when these stalwarts started their journeys...and how they worked together? I'd have loved to know more.
Yes, I wish there was more. :)
Anyway, it's a lovely read. Glad I picked the book.
But this was kind of ... abrupt. And quick.
A quick read. Maybe ye dil maange more....details :) because who doesn't want to read about the times when these stalwarts started their journeys...and how they worked together? I'd have loved to know more.
Yes, I wish there was more. :)
Anyway, it's a lovely read. Glad I picked the book.
October 29, 2023
Gulzar saab and his world, we are just living in it...
The book is fabulous, and if you do a little research on the names here or you know even a bit about the connections and relations then this is a treature, real roller-coaster of emotions.
Loved it and I just couldn't keep it down till I finished it.
Started hardly 1 or 2 hours after it got delivered (as I just couldn't stop my self) and finished on that very day.
This is gold ( it wasn't unexpected as it's Gulzar at the end)
The book is fabulous, and if you do a little research on the names here or you know even a bit about the connections and relations then this is a treature, real roller-coaster of emotions.
Loved it and I just couldn't keep it down till I finished it.
Started hardly 1 or 2 hours after it got delivered (as I just couldn't stop my self) and finished on that very day.
This is gold ( it wasn't unexpected as it's Gulzar at the end)
July 16, 2025
This isn’t a memoir or autobiography, but a heartfelt recollection of people who shaped Gulzar—creatively and personally.
Written originally in Bengali, most of the figures mentioned are Bengalis, and each chapter feels like sitting with Gulzar on a lazy Sunday afternoon, talking about life, art, and the people who left an imprint.
It's warm, nostalgic, and intimate.
My only grouse: the chapter on R. D. Burman deserved a few more pages.
Written originally in Bengali, most of the figures mentioned are Bengalis, and each chapter feels like sitting with Gulzar on a lazy Sunday afternoon, talking about life, art, and the people who left an imprint.
It's warm, nostalgic, and intimate.
My only grouse: the chapter on R. D. Burman deserved a few more pages.
January 23, 2022
गुलजार साहेबांना त्यांच्या कारकिर्दीत भेटलेली कलंदर माणसं आपल्याला या स्मृतिलेखांमधून भेटतात.आपल्या समोर बसून गप्पा मारतात.
किशोर कुमारांच्या कपाटातला जिना ,मिरच्यांचे शॉकीं आर डी बरमन ,हे किस्से ,मी या पुस्तकाच्या पानांमध्ये "ऐकलेत" तेही गुलज़ार साहेबांच्या आवाजात (शब्दांत).
एक सुचवतो की हे पुस्तक वाचताना जेव्हा एखाद्या गाण्याचा उल्लेख होईल तेव्हा ते लगेच ऐका.. वेगळी रंगत येते.
किशोर कुमारांच्या कपाटातला जिना ,मिरच्यांचे शॉकीं आर डी बरमन ,हे किस्से ,मी या पुस्तकाच्या पानांमध्ये "ऐकलेत" तेही गुलज़ार साहेबांच्या आवाजात (शब्दांत).
एक सुचवतो की हे पुस्तक वाचताना जेव्हा एखाद्या गाण्याचा उल्लेख होईल तेव्हा ते लगेच ऐका.. वेगळी रंगत येते.
March 27, 2022
There are just the praises of the most famous people he met. So much of that. Not many instances even. Let alone some meaningful and mature ones, from which we could learn something from. The respect for the artists mentioned in this book, decreased in a high amount for me, actually, after reading this book. LOL!
June 9, 2025
I read the book on a flight and the author doesn't really describe but just touches upon some experiences with the individuals in this book. A quick read hardly required any thought regarding his impressions only the chapters on Bimal Roy and Sharmila Tagore kinda stayed with me, the rest evaporated pretty much almost immediately.
November 4, 2021
LOVELY BOOK
Gulzarji is one of my topmost favourites in the Hindi film industry,so it was really a thrill to read about his various interactions with many of my other favourites like Sanjeev Kumar,Hrishikesh Mukherjee,RD Burman and Suchitra Sen.
Gulzarji is one of my topmost favourites in the Hindi film industry,so it was really a thrill to read about his various interactions with many of my other favourites like Sanjeev Kumar,Hrishikesh Mukherjee,RD Burman and Suchitra Sen.
December 6, 2021
I was eager to read it expecting a memoir of Gulzar's colleagues who would have worked with him with anecdotes but the book only outlines these legends. There are only a couple of female colleagues mentioned in the book, not sure why there's no mention of others.
November 14, 2022
Humbling...
Gulzar sahaab has a way of letting the complexities of life bloom in simple words. 'Actually I Met Them' brings forth Gulzar sahaab's equations with some of the most prominent personalities in Indian film industry... This was as breezy as an insightful read...
Gulzar sahaab has a way of letting the complexities of life bloom in simple words. 'Actually I Met Them' brings forth Gulzar sahaab's equations with some of the most prominent personalities in Indian film industry... This was as breezy as an insightful read...
November 3, 2021
I loved it as it portrays some other stalwarts of his time in his own eyes.
February 5, 2022
Very easy to read. Refreshing book, learnt a few new words in the English language.
February 21, 2022
An amazing read! Felt like Gulzar saab was just have a great talk with me. So engrossed was I that when the book finished I realised that it had not been a talk but a lovely read.
September 2, 2022
Liked some bits more than the others - especially loved the story behind the composition of one of my favourites, Mera kuch samaaan !
February 28, 2023
Though quite nice for me as it talks about few of my favorite film personalities, the depth is lacking in the writing. Few quite personal stories made it an intimate read.
June 16, 2023
Deeply personal, almost like sharing your diary
August 30, 2023
Learnt many new things about the legends.
September 10, 2023
Good perspective on the lives of great personalities whom the author met....
January 1, 2024
Beautiful
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