From mushairas to multimedia showcases, Shaam-e-Rekhta brings fresh relevance to Urdu’s poetic legacy to resonate across generations
Rang aur Noor is a multi-sensory showcase of dance, live music, and audio-visual storytelling
When Shakeel Badayuni wrote the song Jab pyaar kiya toh darna kya for Mughal-e-Azam, director K Asif made him rewrite it nearly a hundred times until each word shone like a gem. “We hum these songs without realising the patience, persistence, and craft behind them,” says Huma Khalil, author, filmmaker, and trustee-director at Rekhta Foundation.
During her research for Rang aur Noor: Urdu Shairo’n ke Filmi Shahkaar, to be showcased at the Shaam-e-Rekhta event, Khalil came across many such stories that revealed poets’ untold journeys. “From my Urdu roots, I’ve always been captivated by the soulful lyrics of Bollywood songs. While we celebrate the singers and stars, the poets who crafted those words often remain in the shadows. Rang Aur Noor is my humble attempt to bring these unsung heroes to the forefront, to illuminate the beauty and depth of their poetry, and to honour their invaluable contribution to our musical heritage,” she says.
Presented by the Rekhta Foundation and Harish and Bina Shah Foundation, Shaam-e-Rekhta returns to the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre at NCPA next Sunday to celebrate the timeless charm of Urdu poetry, music, and culture through a brilliant line-up of performances. The event will include Mushaira, an evening of Urdu poetry, where celebrated poets — including Javed Akhtar, Popular Meeruthi, Iqbal Ashhar, Shakeel Azmi, Nusrat Mehdi, Moin Shadab, Vikas Sharma Raaz, and Azhar Iqbal — will present verses that echo love, longing, and life. On the other hand, Rang aur Noor is a multi-sensory showcase of dance, live music, and audio-visual storytelling featuring Shinjini Kulkarni, Amrish Mishra, Supriya Joshi, Sarvesh Mishra, Yamika Mahesh, Shruti Mishra and others.
On balancing nostalgia with freshness, Khalil says, “The key was to respect the original while reimagining its presentation. Nostalgia speaks to those who grew up with these songs, but younger audiences need context and freshness. By blending live performances with visual storytelling and choreography, I created an experience that bridges generations.”
The event will also feature Mushaira, an evening of Urdu poetry, where celebrated poets such as Javed Akhtar (second from left) will present verses that echo love, longing, and life
The overwhelming response to Shaam-e-Rekhta reflects a cultural resurgence. “Urdu is often seen as a language of the past, yet its appeal today is stronger than ever. What we are witnessing is a rediscovery of Urdu as a language of beauty and depth, cutting across barriers of age and fluency. Even those unfamiliar with the script connect instantly with the emotional power of its poetry and song,” says Khalil.
She believes preservation must go hand in hand with reinvention. “The most effective way to promote Urdu is by weaving it into cultural experiences — through theatre, cinema, music, or digital platforms. When people encounter Urdu in engaging formats, it stops being inaccessible and becomes part of daily life. Its future lies in keeping it relevant, experiential, and celebrated beyond classrooms and textbooks.”
Rekhta was born out of founder Sanjiv Saraf’s personal love for Urdu poetry and his realisation of how limited access to it had become. Barriers of script, translation, and digital availability often kept people away, and his vision was to remove those obstacles and create a platform where anyone could experience the richness of Urdu.
Together, Mushaira and Rang aur Noor, he says, reflect how Urdu can honour its roots while evolving into formats that resonate with modern audiences. The rapid sell-out of events, he adds, reflects an intense cultural hunger for Urdu. “Mumbai has always been central to Urdu’s cultural journey. From being the hub of progressive writers to shaping the language of cinema, this city has nurtured Urdu from the very beginning. Through film, Urdu poets and lyricists found a powerful stage that gave their words a lasting presence in popular memory. Hosting Shaam-e-Rekhta in Mumbai is both symbolic and natural — it brings Urdu back to a city where it has flourished for decades. Moreover, Mumbai’s audiences are culturally discerning and deeply appreciative, making it the perfect host for this celebration,” says Saraf.
WHAT: Shaam-e-Rekhta
WHEN: September 21, 2 pm onwards
WHERE: Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA
TO BOOK: 022-66223724
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