I am the best trash song writer!'

That is how Gulzar explains his €˜item€™ songs like Kajra Re and Beedi.

When you ask Gulzar about what made him pen superhit item songs like Beedi and Kajra Re, he looks at you quizzically for two minutes before saying, €œWhat€™s new? I have been doing this always.€

Then he smiles and says, €œWasn€™t I the man who wrote Chaddi pehen ke phool khila hai?€ That, yes, but here we are discussing out-and-out item songs with a Bipasha or Aishwarya doing the needful? €œYes, I am the best nonsense rhyme writer ever. Nobody can write better trash songs than me. And I have always claimed that. Only earlier, such songs came and went with the movies while the soulful songs will become unforgettable melodies. Now, the trend has been reversed,€ he answers.

But then, Gulzar is the one who makes even a Beedi a class act. €œThis song is based on thumari taal. In fact, compared to the language used by Bipasha€™s character in the film, which is 100 per cent slang, my song will only have one per cent slang. There are too many gaalis in the film, which I felt shouldn€™t have been there. So rather than playing on them, I have used the character€™s language in a very subd u e d m a n - ner. Beedi is actually not just another item number, it is a meaningful song if people actually listen to it,€ he says, adding, €œTo my lyrics, there is always another layer. One just has to scratch them a little to see the next meaning. For instance Beedi is a commentary on the zamindaari system in Uttar Pradesh, which is reflected in the film too€.

And now that he has mastered the art of penning item numbers to his vast repertoire, what can the audience expect from him next? €œI feel that if walking is your basic intention, then you can never reach your destination. When you reach one horizon, you should already visualise the next one. In other words, reaching a horizon is opening the door for new horizons.€ Now that is India€™s best €œtrash song writer€ for you!