Veteran film lyricist and director Gulzar chosen for Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2013

 >> Veteran poet and film lyricist Gulzar has been chosen for the coveted Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2013, the ministry of information and broadcasting announced on Saturday.

>> The multi-faceted Gulzar, whose real name is Sampooran Singh Kalra, is a lyricist, director, screen writer, producer and poet.

>> He is the 45th winner of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

>> The award is conferred by the government for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.

>> Born in 1934 in Punjab in pre-independence India, Gulzar started his career in 1956. As a lyricist, he got his first break in Bimal Roy's "Bandini". He then worked with leading composers like Sachin Dev Burman, Salil Chowdhury, Shankar-Jaikishan, Hemant Kumar, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Madan Mohan, Rajesh Roshan, Anu Malik and the new age Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.

>> His has contributed to several films as script, story and dialogue writer. His directorials are "Mere Apne", "Koshish", "Aandhi", "Kinara", "Khushboo", "Angoor", "Libaas", "Meera", "Lekin" and "Maachis".

>> Gulzar's small screen stint included creating the series like "Mirza Ghalib" and "Tahreer Munshi Premchand Ki". He wrote lyrics for Doordarshan serials "Hello Zindagi", "Potli Baba Ki" and "Jungle Book".

>> The 79-year-old was conferred the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2002 and the Padma Bhushan in 2004 . He has won a number of National Film Awards and 20 Filmfare Awards.

>> At the 81st Oscars in 2009, he won the Academy Award for best original song for "Jai ho" with A R Rahman.

>> His poetry has been published in three compilations: "Chand Pukhraaj Ka", "Raat Pashminey Ki" and "Pandrah Paanch Pachattar". His short stories are published in "Raavi Paar" and "Dhuan".

Know about Dadasaheb Phalke Award?

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in cinema given annually by the Government of India for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.

The Award is given to a prominent personality from the Indian film industry, noted and respected for significant contributions to Indian cinema. A committee consisting eminent personalities from the Indian film industry is appointed to evaluate the award. Introduced in 1969, the birth centenary year of Dadasaheb Phalke, considered as the father of Indian cinema, award is given to recognise the contribution of film personalities towards the development of Indian Cinema and for distinguished contribution to the medium, its growth and promotion.

 The award for a particular year is given during the end of the following year along with the National Film Awards. The award comprises a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a cash prize of INR 1 million and a shawl.