Javed Akhtar and Pervaiz Alam come together at Jashn-e-Rekhta for a sharp, necessary conversation on the Urdu script debate, Rasm-ul-Khat, and the relationship between Hindi and Urdu.

Javed Akhtar begins with a clear argument. There is no problem with the Urdu script. The real confusion lies in mixing up script with language. Through examples from Punjabi, English, French and German, he explains how grammar, not script, defines a language.

He also challenges the idea that Urdu is foreign or belongs to one religion, while reflecting on Bangladesh, Kazi Nazrul Islam, everyday Hindustani vocabulary, Bollywood’s shrinking language, and the class snobbery around speaking one’s own language well.

The conversation also looks at Nastaliq, Devanagari and Roman scripts, the role of Rekhta in digital preservation, and the danger of losing access to literary heritage. The session closes with Javed Akhtar reciting his nazm “Zindagi.”

In this rare and intimate episode of Rekhta Rubaru, legendary Urdu poet Munawwar Rana sits down with Moid Rasheedi for a deeply personal conversation about identity, Partition, poetry, rebellion and the memories that shaped his voice.

Rana reflects on being Munawwar Ali before fame, his childhood as the son of a truck driver, and his father’s decision to stay in India after 1947 to protect the 500-year-old graves of their ancestors.

He shares moving stories of failure, labour, loss and dignity, including the day his father sent him to work after he failed 6th grade.

The conversation also explores his years in Kolkata during the Naxalite era, his rebellious phase, his return to family responsibilities, and the emotional force behind his most defining literary contribution. Bringing Maa to the centre of the Urdu ghazal.

A powerful episode on memory, language, belonging and the poet who changed the emotional vocabulary of Urdu poetry.

Experience the magic of a grand live Mushaira from Shaam-e-Rekhta Mumbai, hosted by the Rekhta Foundation.

Two of the greatest living legends of Urdu poetry, Javed Akhtar and Waseem Barelvi, come together on one stage for an unforgettable evening of ghazal, shayari and powerful poetic expression.

Javed Akhtar delivers deeply moving verses on integrity, self-respect, relationships and the many contradictions of life. His much-loved poem Shatranj stands out as a sharp metaphor for injustice, power and human vulnerability.

Waseem Barelvi brings his iconic lehja, emotional depth and timeless couplets on trust, survival, love and the art of living. His presence turns the evening into a memorable celebration of Urdu poetry.

The Mushaira also features Aslam Hasan, Charagh Sharma, Pooja Bhatia, Madan Mohan Danish, Vijendra Singh Parwaz, Rajesh Reddy and Shamim Abbas. Together, they bring poems on love, memory, society, humour, pain and the everyday emotions that connect us all.

Listen to this complete Grand Mushaira from Shaam-e-Rekhta Mumbai and relive an evening where every strong line finds its echo in the audience.

Featured Poets:
Javed Akhtar, Waseem Barelvi, Aslam Hasan, Charagh Sharma, Pooja Bhatia, Madan Mohan Danish, Vijendra Singh Parwaz, Rajesh Reddy and Shamim Abbas.

In this deeply moving episode of Rekhta Rubaru, host Rehman Faris sits down with legendary poet Abbas Tabish, celebrated as one of the most powerful voices of the modern Urdu ghazal.

From childhood memories and poverty to the emotional force of a mother’s love, Tabish reflects on the fears, wounds, and turning points that shaped both his life and poetry.

He shares the story behind one of his most iconic lines, “Ek Muddat Se Meri Maa Nahi Soi Tabish”, and opens up about how fear has remained a recurring presence in his creative journey.

The conversation also explores his early poetic influences, his father’s role in introducing him to spiritual and romantic imagination through Tafsir Surah Yusuf, and the insult at a newspaper office that pushed him toward education and a lifelong commitment to poetry.

Abbas Tabish also speaks about the craft of the ghazal, the need for poets to unlearn, the importance of lineage in poetry, the legacy of Mir and Sauda, mushaira culture, poetic ego, audience connection, and the digital future of Urdu literature through Rekhta.

The episode closes with powerful recitations by Abbas Tabish, including his unforgettable verses on motherhood, longing, thirst, and the human condition.

A soulful conversation on fear, memory, love, Urdu poetry, and the timeless world of the ghazal.

A book of Jaun Elia's poems no one had read — until now. Javed Akhtar launches Kyun and opens up the poet's hidden world.

On Jaun Elia's birth anniversary, Jashn-e-Rekhta hosts the launch of Kyun, a collection of the legendary Urdu poet's previously unpublished work, compiled by Khalid Akhtar Ansari and Adeel Zaidi and released by Javed Akhtar.

In conversation with Moin Shadab, Javed Akhtar and Jaun's niece Rukhsar Amrohi open up a side of the poet few have heard.

Javed Akhtar unpacks Jaun's craft like only he can explaining sahl-e-mumtana, the deceptively hard art of writing in simple, everyday language while carrying immense poetic weight, and why Jaun's simplicity was a choice born of mastery, not a shortage of words.

He calls Jaun's poetry an emotional lava that turns prose into verse, and reflects on the blunder of Partition through the life of a man whose country was Pakistan but whose soul never left Amroha.

Rukhsar Amrohi shares intimate memories: the heavy silence that settled over their Amroha home after his migration in 1957, and his return years later when he knelt at the station to kiss the soil and embraced the trees of his old home like a man overjoyed.

She also recalls the wasiyat he left her: to carry the family's poetic tradition forward.

Javed Akhtar closes by reciting and decoding some of Jaun Elia's most iconic couplets.

One historian. Seven centuries of India. One unforgettable conversation.

In this episode of Rekhta Rubaru, legendary historian Professor Irfan Habib joins Moid Rasheedi for a sweeping conversation on the making of India’s cultural, political and linguistic history.

From the memories of Partition and the Lahore Resolution to the atmosphere in Aligarh during a turning point in India’s history, Habib reflects on the dangers of allowing religion to shape the future of a nation.

He also recalls Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s 1949 AMU convocation speech and the promise that helped preserve the university’s character.

The conversation moves through the world of Amir Khusrau, whom Habib describes as India’s first patriotic poet, and traces the evolution of Hindavi, Persian, Urdu and Hindi.

He also speaks about Akbar’s vision, Gandhi’s idea of Hindustani, Dara Shikoh’s translation of the Upanishads, and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s complex legacy in education, archaeology and colonial India.

A rich, thought-provoking episode for anyone interested in Urdu, Indian history, language, culture, Partition, Mughal history and the many ideas that shaped India.

Recorded live at Jashn-e-Rekhta Dubai, this special conversation brings together Mahira Khan and Samina Peerzada with host Adeel Hashmi for a thoughtful, warm, and revealing session on acting, storytelling, and the journey from script to screen.

Titled “Kahaani Se Kirdaar Tak”, the discussion explores how actors shape written characters into unforgettable performances.

Mahira Khan reflects on her creative process, the emotional preparation behind complex roles, and the experience of becoming part of a cultural phenomenon through Humsafar.

Samina Peerzada brings her years of experience as an actor, director, and storyteller, offering a deeper view of Pakistani cinema, television, and the changing place of women in performance.

Beyond the craft, the conversation also looks at the real life behind fame, the pressure of public love, the discipline required to stay honest as an artist, and the quiet work that goes into making a role feel alive.

For fans of Mahira Khan, Samina Peerzada, Pakistani dramas, cinema, theatre, and acting, this live session is part conversation, part masterclass, and part celebration of stories that stay with us.

Sharman Joshi joins Rekhta Guftugu for a warm, honest conversation on theatre, cinema, family, craft, and the long journey of becoming an actor.

Born into a family deeply connected with Gujarati theatre, Sharman looks back at the influence of his father Arvind Joshi, his uncle Praveen Joshi, and the world of modern Indian theatre that shaped his early years.

He shares stories from college, his first play after graduation, the success of All the Best, and the unforgettable lessons he learnt from live audiences.

The conversation moves from Gujarati theatre to Hindi cinema, from stage struggles to film roles, and from forgotten dialogues to the discipline of acting.

Sharman also speaks about learning jazz dance and horse riding, his love for music, the languages he speaks, his siblings, reading habits, and the actors who continue to inspire him.

From 3 Idiots, Rang De Basanti, Golmaal: Fun Unlimited, and Life in a Metro to his reflections on the kind of roles he now seeks, this episode offers a rare look at Sharman Joshi beyond the screen. Gentle, funny, thoughtful, and deeply rooted in theatre.