World · India Bureau
Meghna Gulzar's Daayra Echoes Father Gulzar's Songless Cinema Legacy
Director Meghna Gulzar addressed comparisons between her film Daayra and her father Gulzar's 1973 release Achanak, both notably devoid of songs. The question of whether she deliberately followed his unconventional approach emerged during a press interaction.
LSN India ·
At a press conference, a journalist raised the intriguing parallel between Meghna Gulzar's Daayra and Achanak, the acclaimed 1973 film directed by her father Gulzar. Both films eschew the traditional song-and-dance format that typically defines Indian cinema, marking a departure from mainstream conventions. The question probed whether the younger director had consciously adopted her father's bold narrative choice for her own project. Meghna Gulzar's response to this inquiry offered insight into whether Daayra represents an intentional homage to her father's pioneering work or an independent creative decision. The comparison highlights a striking artistic lineage in Indian cinema, where both parent and child have challenged audience expectations by crafting compelling narratives without relying on musical interludes. Such filmmaking choices remain relatively uncommon in Hindi cinema, underscoring the distinctive creative vision shared across generations of the Gulzar family.