Hindi film writing owes much to Wajahat Mirza, says Tigmanshu Dhulia

LUCKNOW: Recalling unmatched contribution of forgotten dialogue and screenwriter Wajahat Hussain Mirza Changezi, who hailed from Sitapur, eminent film director Tigmanshu Dhulia said, “If Wajahat had not been there, our Hindi film writing would not have been fresh, sharp, engaging and interesting.”
Speaking at Koshala Literature Festival organized in Lucknow, the 55-year-old national film award recipient Dhulia said, “Lucknow should celebrate Mirza every year in lit fest.People have forgotten him. His writing had inspired Salim-Javed who wrote the screenplay for Sholay and many other films. The 1961 Ganga Jamuna written by Dilip Kumar sahib (Mohammed Yusuf Khan) had dialogues written by Wajahat. He wrote Mehboob Khan’s films like Aurat, Mother India and others.” Wajahat had also penned dialogues for Mughal-e-Azam (1960) and was nominated for the Academy Awards (Oscar) for Mother India (1957).
“Another screenplay and dialogue writer Mukhram Sharma from Meerut who worked for B R Chopra was an inspiring writer, but Wajahat was way above league. I salute him,” said Dhulia who also came into acting starting from Gangs of Wasseypur directed by Anurag Kashyap.
Dhulia said that Hindi cinema has been influenced by Awadh. “Films like Mughal-e-Azam, Ganga-Jamuna, Lagan were shot somewhere else, but were influenced by Awadh,” he said.
Speaking on the reason behind South films doing good as Hindi cinema failing to make an impact in the last few years, Dhulia, who was born in Allahabad, said, “South films connect with the people. Their hero be it Rajinikanth or any other wears lungi, eats food the way an ordinary person eats. They don’t shy away from their culture.”