Jan Nisar and Kaifi: Javed Akhtar, Pavan K. Varma, Shabana Azmi & Rana Safvi
Javed Akhtar is a noted script writer, lyricist and poet who belongs to a family lineage that can be traced back to seven generations of writers. The highly-respected Urdu poet Majaz was his mother’s brother and the work of Muzter Khairabadi, his grandfather, is looked upon as a milestone in Urdu poetry. A respected social commentator and activist, Akhtar is a former Member of Parliament. He was the leading force behind the Copyright Amendment bill that restores dignity to lyrics and music composers. He is the recipient of five National Awards for Best Lyricist, 15 Filmfare Awards for Best Script Writer and Best Lyricist, a Sahitya Akademi Award, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri.
Pavan K. Varma is an award-winning writer-diplomat and now in politics, where he was till recently an MP in the Rajya Sabha, and earlier Advisor to the Chief Minister of Bihar. He is the author of over a dozen best-selling books, including Ghalib: The Man, The Times, The Great Indian Middle Class, The Book of Krishna, Being Indian, Becoming Indian and Chanakya’s New Manifesto. He has been Ambassador in several countries, including Bhutan, Director of The Nehru Centre in London, Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Director General, ICCR and Press Secretary to the President of India. He is currently the National General Secretary and National Spokesman of the Janata Dal (United). In 2018, he was conferred an Honorary Doctorate by the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management for his book Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism’s Greatest Thinker. His latest book is Chanakya’s View: Understanding India in Transition
Shabana Azmi is an internationally celebrated Indian film actress who believes art should be used as an instrument for social change. Her entry into films marked the way for the Parallel Cinema Movement with Shyam Benegal’s Ankur in 1974. She has won five National Awards for Best Actress and five International Awards for Best Actress. Azmi is also highly respected as a social activist and tireless campaigner for the rights of women, slum dwellers and the underprivileged.A former UN Goodwill Ambassador for Population and Development,she was recently been nominated as a Global Leadership Ambassador for Women in a public service project initiated by Hillary Clinton. Azmi was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President of India in 1997. She is a recipient of the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan. She was awarded the Gandhi International Peace Prize at the House of Lords in 2006.
Rana Safvi is an author, translator, columnist and blogger deeply interested in India’s syncretic culture, which she documents via its history, cultural heritage, monuments, clothes, food and festivals. She is the founder of the popular Twitter forum #shair that helped revive interest in Urdu poetry.
Jan Nisar and Kaifi
India’s iconic Bollywood couple, actor Shabana Azmi and poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar, carry poetry in their genes. Akhtar’s father, the late Jan Nisar Akhtar, was a legendary Urdu poet. Azmi’s father, the late Kaifi Azmi, was an enduring icon for generations of revolutionary poets. In an extraordinary session, Akhtar and Azmi celebrate this literary legacy, its impact on contemporary culture and the continuing traditions in Urdu literature. In conversation with writer and diplomat Pavan K. Varma and author Rana Safvi, a session of readings and discussion.
Presented by RED FM
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Links to the other session by Pavan K. Varma: • Pavan K. Varma, Malash...
Links to the other session by Shabana Azmi: • Shabana Azmi, Rakhshan...
Links to the other session by Rana Safvi: • Rana Safvi, Salman Khu...
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