HarperCollins India has announced the publication of Aamchi Mumbai, a bilingual collection of poems and short stories by celebrated poet, lyricist and filmmaker Gulzar, offering a literary homage to Mumbai, the city he has called home for more than seven decades.

The volume brings together 25 short stories and 36 poems inspired by Mumbai, reflecting the city’s many moods, contradictions and transformations through Gulzar’s distinctive literary voice. The collection has been curated by Gulzar himself, with the selected works appearing together in a single volume for the first time.

The book presents the original Hindi texts in Devanagari script alongside new English translations by noted translator and literary historian Dr Rakhshanda Jalil, making the collection accessible to a wider readership.

Describing the publication as a special tribute to Mumbai, Udayan Mitra, Executive Publisher at HarperCollins India, said the bilingual collector’s edition captures the nuances and spirit of the city through Gulzar’s writings. He noted that the volume would appeal to both admirers of Mumbai and readers of Gulzar’s work.

Gulzar, one of India’s most acclaimed literary and cinematic figures, has lived in Mumbai since the 1950s. Over the decades, the city has featured prominently in his poetry and prose, serving as both setting and inspiration. Aamchi Mumbai explores everyday life, memories and experiences of the metropolis from the perspective of a longtime resident.

The collection has been translated by Dr Rakhshanda Jalil, a renowned translator and author known for her work in bringing Hindi and Urdu literature to English readers. She has previously translated several of Gulzar’s works, including Footprints on Zero Line: Writings on the Partition and Baal-o-Par.

Born in 1934, Gulzar is regarded as one of India’s foremost poets and lyricists. His distinguished career spans literature, cinema and children’s writing. He has received numerous honours, including the Sahitya Akademi Award, Padma Bhushan, Dadasaheb Phalke Award and the Jnanpith Award. He is the only individual to have received both the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and the Jnanpith Award.

Positioned as a giftable collector’s edition, Aamchi Mumbai celebrates the enduring relationship between one of India’s most beloved writers and the city that has shaped much of his creative journey.