Lyricist-filmmaker Gulzar to receive excellence in cinema Award

London: Lyricist-filmmaker Gulzar will be honoured with excellence in cinema award by South Asian Cinema foundation this year.

Gulzar, who won the Oscar for Best Original song for `Jai Ho` with A R Rahman, will receive the award at a special function here from India`s High Commissioner to the UK, Nalin Surie. The previous recipients of the award are Adoor Gopalakrishnan, M S Sathyu, Saeed Akhtar Mirza and Girish Kasaravalli. "Gulzar is being honoured for his overall historic contribution to popular Indian cinema. His distinction lies in his creation of a unique imagery in film lyrics, making intense political films like `Aandhi` (1975) and Maachis (1996) and breaking new ground with a screen writing impregnated with strong political undercurrent," said Lalit Mohan Joshi, the Director of South Asian Cinema Foundation. Gulzar, 75, will also inaugurate a retrospective on his films and introduce his film `Ijaazat` before its screening here. The acclaimed poet will recite a selection of his poetry as part of the programme `Kalaam-e-Gulzar, B`zabaan-e-Gulzar`, at the University of Westminster. A prolific filmmaker, Gulzar has directed a number of films. They range from whacky entertainers like `Angoor`, `Namkeen` and `Parichay`, to politically provocative films like `Maachis` and `Aandhi`. PTI