Acclaimed writer Gulzar released DVDs of his decade-old television series based on Premchand novels. He tells Karan Bhardwaj that literature is a reminder of realities that existed in the bygone era
Social tales of Munshi Premchand have inspired numerous writers and litterateurs. Even acclaimed writer Gulzar, who seldom wears director’s hat, had directed a 26-episode series Tehreer…Munshi Premchand Ki in 2004. Broadcast on Doordarshan, it was based on two short stories Godan and Nirmala. Reliving those moments, Gulzar recently launched the DVD versions of the series.
“It would help the audience reconnect with the show which enjoyed immense popularity,” he said. Gulzar has been a self-confessed fan of Premchand and thinks that screen adaptations add life to the literary works.
“Everything is available on Google and digital media. Young people resort to Computer to find solutions today. In this scenario, we must make our literature available as per the demand. I don’t say that books must be avoided but when a book is translated on celluloid, it only enhances its popularity and acceptance,” he said.
According to the lyricist, who’s in the Capital for National Awards, all literature-based shows should be distributed in DVD formats. “It will become an institution in itself if all such shows are available to students and cinema enthusiasts. It will benefit researchers and scholars too who are studying Indian literature and cinema,” he said.
According to him, Premchand writings were real and always reflected the ‘rural’ face of society. “He narrated his own observations in his stories. The societies and set up that we come across in his stories are still existing. To shoot the shows, we went to a village on the border of Maharashtra and Gujarat. I was stunned to see that the dehaat that Premchand described continues to exist. Nothing has changed. Farmers are still facing hardships and so the rural belt,” he said. Gulzar shared his early experiences of reading Premchand. “I had seen my mother cooking on angithi and burning her hands. As a child, I could relate to his stories in school. When I read same stuff again in college, I understood the larger context of feudalism, zamindar system and unequal distribution of wealth and resources. During the making of series, I got deeper understanding of Premchand’s inspirations. He knew the movements of rural cattle, the functioning of lanterns and so on… I could feel what he was writing,” he said. Gulzar, who will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke award, said literature doesn’t reform but is a reminder of the bygone era.
“It can only warn you. It can show you the realities that existed,” he said. He also recounted his own journey in Bollywood. “I am blessed that I got so many great mentors and companions. Bimal Roy asked me, ‘Even if you don’t want to write, you must assist me. You will learn something in the end’. I have learnt a lot from SD Burman, Salil Chowdhury, Madan Mohan and many other legends,” he said.
The writer is known for reinventing himself with time. From Mora Gora Rang lai le to Beedi Jalaile, he has proved his versatility time and again. “I state my observation. Even my new songs have much more meaning, beyond the words. If you scratch the surface and go deep, you will understand what I am writing and why I am writing it. Cinema is like mirror to society. Society doesn’t follow cinema, it’s the other way round,” he said.