In an interaction with ETimes, veteran filmmaker and lyricist Gulzar revisited his 1982 film Namkeen as it completed 44 years, describing it as a deeply personal project that he believes did not receive its due at the time.
Speaking candidly about its journey, Gulzar said, “I have to admit, I’ve always had a soft corner for Namkeen. It’s like that child of yours that got left behind in the race,” underlining how the film remained overlooked despite its layered storytelling and emotional depth.
He also highlighted the literary roots of the film, adding, “Samresh Basu has always been one of my favourite authors. I read all his works in the original Bengali, so I was familiar with the nuances that often get lost in translation. Namkeen is based on a story of his that I had loved from the time I first read it.”
Explaining what drew him to the narrative, Gulzar pointed to its character-driven core. “To me, the most interesting part of Namkeen was these four women, one past the age of marriage, one at a marriageable age, another approaching it, and their mother, who is constantly worried about them,” he said. He further described the emotional dynamics, noting, “The way these women cling to the man who comes into their lives, he starts off as just a tenant but soon becomes their support system. He shares a unique relationship with each one of them.”
The film featured actors like Waheeda Rehman, Sharmila Tagore, Shabana Azmi, and Kiran Vairale. On casting, Gulzar said, “Not at all. Why should it be difficult? If you give actors good roles, why would they say no? All of them performed beautifully.” He added, “Yes, Kiran Vairale did remind me of Jaya Bhaduri.”
Even after four decades, Gulzar’s reflections position Namkeen as a film that stayed close to his heart, even if it lagged behind in recognition.
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More Pages: Namkeen Box Office Collection
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