A film carries six fine arts - it consists of architecture, painting, music, writing or literature, photography and performance. It's a conjecture of all these things and yet based on literature.

Gulzar’s quote — “A film carries six fine arts — it consists of architecture, painting, music, writing or literature, photography, and performance. It’s a conjecture of all these things and yet based on literature.” — beautifully captures the multidisciplinary nature of cinema. As a renowned Indian poet, lyricist, and filmmaker, Gulzar draws attention to how film is a composite art form, a medium where various artistic disciplines merge to create a unified emotional and narrative experience.

By listing architecture, painting, music, literature, photography, and performance, he acknowledges the foundational elements that contribute to a film’s aesthetic, structure, and meaning. For instance, architecture influences set design and spatial composition, painting informs color palettes and visual symbolism, music drives emotion, photography captures light and mood, performance brings characters to life, and writing forms the core narrative. These elements, when orchestrated effectively, result in a film that is not just entertainment but a rich artistic expression.

Gulzar’s emphasis that film is “based on literature” underlines his belief that storytelling remains the foundation of cinema. Regardless of how visually or technically sophisticated a film may be, it ultimately draws strength from its script, dialogue, and thematic substance—all of which stem from the literary tradition. His background as a celebrated writer himself makes this perspective especially meaningful, highlighting his respect for the written word as the heart of cinematic art.

Ultimately, this quote reflects Gulzar’s deep understanding of film as an interdisciplinary masterpiece—a symphony of the arts, harmonized through narrative. It reminds us that cinema is not just a product of technology or performance, but a confluence of artistic legacies, each playing a vital role in shaping how stories are told and experienced on screen.