Gulzar and Divya Dutta on Urdu Poetry, Nazm, and Life Stories | Sunday Special at Jashn-e-Rekhta
Jashn-e-Rekhta
315,985 views
Gulzar and Divya Dutta on Urdu, Nazm and Life | Mehekti Khushbu Ka Safar | Sunday Special
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A warm Sunday Special from Jashn-e-Rekhta. Gulzar speaks with Divya Dutta about language, writing, and the place of Urdu in his life. He says Indian languages are not regional in spirit. He recites short verses on Urdu and belonging. He shares personal memories of his father and the mother he never really saw. There is light humour around mistaken identity and the long, friendly comparison with Javed Akhtar.
Gulzar also talks about Mirza Ghalib and why he insisted on Naseeruddin Shah for the role. He remembers Sanjeev Kumar with affection and shares the paan story. The session closes with nazms on tenderness, memory, time, and the unease of the present.
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Chapters:
00:00:00 Gulzar’s grand intro. Poetry in praise
00:00:58 Divya Dutta enters. A roaring welcome
00:01:38 Jashn-e-Rekhta 10 years. Opening salutes
00:02:45 Gulzar on Rekhta’s growing cultural wave
00:03:42 Delhi revived as the capital of literature
00:04:40 India’s languages aren’t “regional”. Gulzar
00:06:26 Why Urdu feels like winter sun. Two verses
00:10:54 Divya asks. The story behind “Gulzar”
00:12:25 Self-portrait nazm. Identity and ageing
00:15:51 How “Gulzar” became his name. School days
00:18:34 Why he says “Abbu”. A word full of love
00:19:20 Nazms for father. Pride, fear, and grief
00:22:54 Nazm for mother. Searching her in his face
00:25:41 Gulzar and Javed Akhtar. Bond and banter
00:26:22 A fan called him by the wrong name. Laughs
00:29:05 Sanjeev Kumar. The scene that stunned Gulzar
00:34:56 Mirza Ghalib casting. The question begins
00:35:32 Naseeruddin Shah’s “Ghalib” moment. Casting
00:41:06 Why Naseer disappears into characters. Craft
00:42:47 “I’m an actor”. A nazm on roles and scars
00:44:29 Nazms not songs. Gulzar’s playful confession
00:45:22 “Every hurt becomes a nazm”. Healing poetry
00:48:39 Ghazal’s mansion vs nazm’s freedom. Explained
00:50:40 Have relationships changed. “Love stays love”
00:52:27 Where relationships begin. A childhood nazm
00:55:18 Lost and Found. Love, memory, and habits
00:56:09 Why he writes nazm instead of protesting
00:58:03 Romantic nazm on age, weight, and beauty
01:00:40 Fearful times. Night vs day. Save the earth
01:04:41 Sunlight as an old woman. A home nazm
01:06:43 “Old nazms allergy”. Dust, sneezes, nostalgia
01:10:32 Closing lines. “Your light on my face” finale
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About Jashn-e-Rekhta
Jashn-e-Rekhta is the world’s largest cultural festival celebrating the beauty, depth, and living spirit of the Urdu language. Held annually, it brings together poets, musicians, writers, thinkers, and artists from across the world to create a space of poetry, music, conversations, and storytelling. From soul-stirring mushairas and spellbinding musical evenings to intimate dialogues and immersive cultural experiences, the festival is where language turns into emotion and heritage finds a contemporary voice. More than a festival, Jashn-e-Rekhta is a movement that keeps Urdu alive, relevant, and deeply connected across generations.
.
#gulzar #divyadutta #jashnerekhta #urdupoetry #nazm #ghazal #mirzaghalib #naseeruddinshah #sanjeevkumar #rekhta
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About Rekhta Foundation:
Rekhta Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation committed to preserving, promoting, and celebrating the Urdu language and its rich literary and cultural legacy. Through digital archives, learning platforms, publications, festivals, and community initiatives, the Foundation works to make Urdu accessible and meaningful for audiences worldwide. By bridging classical traditions with modern platforms and voices, Rekhta Foundation ensures that the language continues to inspire, connect, and evolve with time.
.
IMPORTANT COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© Rekhta Foundation. All rights reserved. Unauthorized downloading, clipping, re-uploading, or reuse of this content (audio/video/visuals) is strictly prohibited without written permission.
.
External Links:
Website: https://rekhta.org/
Instagram: Instagram: jashnerekhtaofficial
Rekhta Books: https://rekhtabooks.com/
Rekhta Learning: https://rekhtalearning.com/-
20 Comments
Thank you Rekhta. Fan from Pakistan 🇵🇰
Gulzar and Divya Dutta on Urdu Poetry, Nazm, and Life Stories | Sunday Special at Jashn-e-Rekhta
Jashn-e-Rekhta
315,985 views
Gulzar and Divya Dutta on Urdu, Nazm and Life | Mehekti Khushbu Ka Safar | Sunday Special
.
A warm Sunday Special from Jashn-e-Rekhta. Gulzar speaks with Divya Dutta about language, writing, and the place of Urdu in his life. He says Indian languages are not regional in spirit. He recites short verses on Urdu and belonging. He shares personal memories of his father and the mother he never really saw. There is light humour around mistaken identity and the long, friendly comparison with Javed Akhtar.
Gulzar also talks about Mirza Ghalib and why he insisted on Naseeruddin Shah for the role. He remembers Sanjeev Kumar with affection and shares the paan story. The session closes with nazms on tenderness, memory, time, and the unease of the present.
.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Gulzar’s grand intro. Poetry in praise
00:00:58 Divya Dutta enters. A roaring welcome
00:01:38 Jashn-e-Rekhta 10 years. Opening salutes
00:02:45 Gulzar on Rekhta’s growing cultural wave
00:03:42 Delhi revived as the capital of literature
00:04:40 India’s languages aren’t “regional”. Gulzar
00:06:26 Why Urdu feels like winter sun. Two verses
00:10:54 Divya asks. The story behind “Gulzar”
00:12:25 Self-portrait nazm. Identity and ageing
00:15:51 How “Gulzar” became his name. School days
00:18:34 Why he says “Abbu”. A word full of love
00:19:20 Nazms for father. Pride, fear, and grief
00:22:54 Nazm for mother. Searching her in his face
00:25:41 Gulzar and Javed Akhtar. Bond and banter
00:26:22 A fan called him by the wrong name. Laughs
00:29:05 Sanjeev Kumar. The scene that stunned Gulzar
00:34:56 Mirza Ghalib casting. The question begins
00:35:32 Naseeruddin Shah’s “Ghalib” moment. Casting
00:41:06 Why Naseer disappears into characters. Craft
00:42:47 “I’m an actor”. A nazm on roles and scars
00:44:29 Nazms not songs. Gulzar’s playful confession
00:45:22 “Every hurt becomes a nazm”. Healing poetry
00:48:39 Ghazal’s mansion vs nazm’s freedom. Explained
00:50:40 Have relationships changed. “Love stays love”
00:52:27 Where relationships begin. A childhood nazm
00:55:18 Lost and Found. Love, memory, and habits
00:56:09 Why he writes nazm instead of protesting
00:58:03 Romantic nazm on age, weight, and beauty
01:00:40 Fearful times. Night vs day. Save the earth
01:04:41 Sunlight as an old woman. A home nazm
01:06:43 “Old nazms allergy”. Dust, sneezes, nostalgia
01:10:32 Closing lines. “Your light on my face” finale
.
About Jashn-e-Rekhta
Jashn-e-Rekhta is the world’s largest cultural festival celebrating the beauty, depth, and living spirit of the Urdu language. Held annually, it brings together poets, musicians, writers, thinkers, and artists from across the world to create a space of poetry, music, conversations, and storytelling. From soul-stirring mushairas and spellbinding musical evenings to intimate dialogues and immersive cultural experiences, the festival is where language turns into emotion and heritage finds a contemporary voice. More than a festival, Jashn-e-Rekhta is a movement that keeps Urdu alive, relevant, and deeply connected across generations.
.
#gulzar #divyadutta #jashnerekhta #urdupoetry #nazm #ghazal #mirzaghalib #naseeruddinshah #sanjeevkumar #rekhta
.
About Rekhta Foundation:
Rekhta Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation committed to preserving, promoting, and celebrating the Urdu language and its rich literary and cultural legacy. Through digital archives, learning platforms, publications, festivals, and community initiatives, the Foundation works to make Urdu accessible and meaningful for audiences worldwide. By bridging classical traditions with modern platforms and voices, Rekhta Foundation ensures that the language continues to inspire, connect, and evolve with time.
.
IMPORTANT COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© Rekhta Foundation. All rights reserved. Unauthorized downloading, clipping, re-uploading, or reuse of this content (audio/video/visuals) is strictly prohibited without written permission.
.
External Links:
Website: https://rekhta.org/
Instagram: Instagram: jashnerekhtaofficial
Rekhta Books: https://rekhtabooks.com/
Rekhta Learning: https://rekhtalearning.com/-
आज फिर आप की कमी सी है।"
Gulzar