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PODCAST

Urdunama

Bollywood songs turn us all into Grammy award-winning bathroom singers! But wait, do you know the meaning of every word you sing? Especially the ones in Urdu? On Urdunama, our host Fabeha Syed takes one word at a time and breaks it down for you. Be it the protest poetry of Faiz, or Sameer"s 90s nostalgia, we have it all. If you like Urdu and poetry, this podcast is for you!

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All Episodes

9:24

Gems Of Feminist Urdu Poetry This Women's Day

Urdunama ·

2021/03/06

In this special episode of Urdunama, we bring you the poetry of Urdu's female poets. Poets like Ada Jafferey, Fehmida Riaz, Kishwar Naheed, Zehra Nigah, and Parveen Shakir, among others, bring female perspectives to a genre that is largely ruled by male poets. Tune in for some gems from these great women's shayari. Host, Writer, and Sound Designer: Fabeha Syed Editor: Shelly Walia Music: Big Bang Fuzz

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14:58

Shayar-e-Inquilab Josh Malihabadi’s Poems Spoke To...

Urdunama ·

2021/02/20

Author of the slogan that echoes in every protest, Josh Malihabadi was a poet who challenged the British in his fierce style of writing. The poet par excellence, Josh Malihabadi was also close to India’s first prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who he considered his ideal. Josh was conferred Padma Bhushan in the year 1954. His fiery poetry was anti-establishment, anti-religiosity, and spoke directly to those in power. It is considered the blueprint for most resistance writing. In this

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13:22

Power, Protest & Poetry: Urdu Shayari & the Anatomy...

Urdunama ·

2021/02/05

Bohot barbaad hain lekin sadaa-e-inqalaab aaye Wahin se vo pukaar utthega jo zarra jahaan hogaa This couplet by Ali Sardar Jafri points out the essence of the individual struggles in a revolution that brings people together who desire to change the society, a corrupt system, and so on. But every inquilaab comes only when there is the dissent that needs to be voiced. To celebrate this voice of resistance, Urdu shayari has given us gems in poets like Faiz’s, Jalib’s, and Kishwar Naheed’s poetry

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9:52

Urdu Poetry And The Idea Of 'Shifa' Or 'Healing'

Urdunama ·

2021/01/23

As the world is rejoicing the arrival of many vaccine candidates in different countries, we take a look at the idea of recovery in Urdu poetry. In this episode, The Quint's Fabeha Syed recites Ghalib, Muztar Khairabadi, and also, Sahir Ludhianvi's nazm against the politics of religion, '26 January'. Tune in. Host, Writer, and Sound Designer: Fabeha Syed Editor: Shelly Walia Music: Big Bang Fuzz

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9:43

Hope For A Better Tomorrow, A 'Tabdeeli', This Year

Urdunama ·

2021/01/09

The journey we had in 2020, and the events we have witnessed is not something anyone of us would like to experience or go through again. Although, and overall the last year was full of trials in a way that demanded us to toss our freedoms aside, we learned many lessons. From forcing ourselves to adjust to the ‘new normal’, to finding freedom in restrictions, sailing through the year of a raging pandemic indeed feels like a rite of passage none of us was ready for. But hey, we did it. This

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14:48

Poetry and A Prayer To Keep Safe & 'Salaamat' This...

Urdunama ·

2020/12/26

Pandemic, Politics & Protests. These three words can sum-up what 2020 was like. An anxious heart wants to be assured that nothing from the previous year should follow us as we begin a brand new year. And what better way to start a new journey than prayers and hope for peace and strength? Join us as we read the poems of Sahir Ludhianvi, Ahmad Faraz, and Ali Sardar Jafri, to make sense of what 'amn' or 'peace' is. These poets tell us not just about friendships, but also, war and hatred, and

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7:59

Poetry & ‘Kisan’: Iqbal, Majaz & Kaifi’s Healing...

Urdunama ·

2020/12/05

Jis khet se dahqan ko mayassar nahin rozi us khet ke har khosha-e-gandum ko jala do Urdu poet and thinker Allama Iqbal is saying through this couplet that if the piece of land where the farmer grows his produce and other crops is not yielding him any income, it should not be of any use to anybody. With the country embroiled in protests by farmers against the Centre’s new farm laws, we take a look at some perspectives shared in Urdu poetry on issues concerning farmers. Works of Asrar ul Haq Majaz,

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11:57

How Being a 'Beniyaz' Means Not Being In Any Need

Urdunama ·

2020/11/21

Note: The difference between the pronunciations of 'marz' and 'maraz' is colloquial - while the former is technically correct, the latter is present in everyday usage. In a world where everything is moving so fast, where the sense of impermanence has only become deeper, most of us feel an intense urge to be able to control everything around us - things, feelings, even people. This can be exhausting. However, good things come to those who wait and keep calm. In this episode of Urdunama, we

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11:57

What Is Life Without 'Hausla'? These Ashaar Tell Us...

Urdunama ·

2020/11/07

In this episode of Urdunama, we go back to poets like Faiz, Iqbal, Moradabadi, and others, for a lesson we need to refresh - bold Is beautiful. This podcast will help you pick up 'hausla' meaning 'courage', if you need some. Tune in. Host, Writer, and Sound Designer: Fabeha Syed Editor: Shelly Walia Music: Big Bang Fuzz

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10:36

Ismat Chughtai: The ‘Buri Ladki’ of Urdu Fiction

Urdunama ·

2020/10/24

Ismat Chughtai, nicknamed 'Lady Manto', wrote mostly about the Indian middle-class Muslim culture and domestic life. But, it's her work on the life of women, and their sexual problems, that she is most remembered for. Ismat ‘Apa’, as she was fondly called, wrote a short story called ‘Lihaaf’ on same-sex desire and attracted not only social backlash but was also dragged to court on charges of obscenity. In this episode, we revisit 'Lihaaf' and remember the real 'buri ladki' of the sub-continent –

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10:53

Embrace Your Memories: Your Past, Your 'Maazi' Is...

Urdunama ·

2020/10/10

Your past, your memories, our history. Without the past or our ‘maazi’, no art is possible. And as far as Urdu poetry is concerned, the source of inspiration has always been the beloved whom the poet reminisces about in ghazals. In this episode of Urdunama, we revel in some of the gems of shayari which remind us that if the past hounds with all its bitterness, then there is no point clinging to it. But, if you still have to endure that sour maazi, then become iron-willed. And as they say, ‘what

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17:12

Lata Mangeshkar: Tale of a Chorus Singer Becoming the...

Urdunama ·

2020/09/26

Trained at the age of five by her father and Marathi theatre star, Deenanath Mangeshkar, Lata Mangeshkar started her career as a child artiste and chorus singer in 1942. But it wasn't until the late 40s when she landed her first solo hit - 'Aayega, aayega aane wala..' from the film Mahal starring Madhubala and Ashok Kumar. Lata was praised by Nargis' mother Jaddanbai for her Urdu pronunciation of a word in this song, but she was earlier mocked for her Urdu by Dilip Kumar aka 'Yusuf Bhai', as she

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8:46

Here Comes The 'Aaftab' Of Some Glowing Ashaar

Urdunama ·

2020/09/12

'Aaftab' or the sun is the heart of the universe that keeps the solar system and its planets together. This huge glowing ball of gas is a star that symbolizes spirit, life, strength, triumph, energy and usually everything positive. In this episode of Urdunama, feel the radiance of some Urdu poetry that reminds you to face towards the 'aaftab' so that the shadows could fall behind you. Tune in. Host, Writer and Sound Designer: Fabeha Syed Vocals: Dr Junaid Alam, Mumbai based screenwriter, and a

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12:36

Dear 'Befikre' Or 'Ghaafil', You've Got A Message...

Urdunama ·

2020/08/29

'Ghaflat' and 'Taghaful' mean 'carelessness' or 'ignorance'. In Urdu poetry, it is the poet's lover who is usually guilty of this and hence is called a 'ghaafil' - someone who is oblivious of the poet's feelings. However, Faiz Ahmad Faiz and Allama Iqbal have a different point of view. For them there are different reasons for the built-up of 'taghaful - one says its 'laziness', the other feels its 'arrogance' or 'indifference'. Tune in to know what is it that makes us 'befikre'. Host, Writer and

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9:22

Podcast | Remembering The ‘People’s Poet, Rahat Indori

Urdunama ·

2020/08/15

Sabhī kā khūn hai shāmil yahāñ ki mittī meiñ kisī ke bāp ka hindostān thodi hai This is an oft-quoted sher in political discussions and protests, especially those opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens. It also found its way into Parliament, when it was quoted by All India Trinamool Congress’ Mahua Moitra, while giving her maiden address. She listed seven signs in her power-packed fiery speech to make her point that the country is moving towards

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17:48

Happy Birthday, Gulzar: Celebrating the Genius And...

Urdunama ·

2020/08/08

In this special episode of Urdunama, we celebrate the legend - the man of golden words, a friend, and a father, Gulzar.

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15:08

Urdunama: Meet Meena Kumari, The Poetess

Urdunama ·

2020/07/25

Often dubbed as the 'tragedy queen' of Hindi cinema, legendary actor Meena Kumari was not only a powerful star but also a poetess. In this episode of Urdunama, we revisit the story of the tragedienne through her poetry. Also, featuring in this podcast is the famous Sufi singer, Rashmi Agarwal, who is the recipient of the Grand-Prix Award at the prestigious 9th International World Music Festival in 2013. Tune In. Guest: Rashmi Agarwal, Indian Sufi singer. Host, Writer and Sound Designer: Fabeha

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9:06

‘Qurbaten’ – An Antidote to Loneliness When ‘Vasl’ Fails

Urdunama ·

2020/07/11

The biggest tragedy for a poet is the absence of his lover in his life. That's why just the thought of a possibility of never-ending meetings with his beloved brings him a lot of relief. All he wishes, in his life, is to have nearness or qurbaten with his mehboob. For example, this sher does not have the word qurbat, but the poet wishes to get closer to his mehboob; Shakeel Badayuni writes: kaise kah duuñ ki mulāqāt nahīñ hotī hai roz milte haiñ magar baat nahīñ hotī hai The poet is

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7:43

Sometimes a Bit of ‘Takalluf’ is Just What is Needed...

Urdunama ·

2020/06/27

‘kyā takalluf kareñ ye kahne meñ jo bhī ḳhush hai ham us se jalte haiñ’ In this sher, poet Jaun Eliya announces unapologetically that he feels jealous of those who are happier in their lives than he is. The word ‘takalluf’ means ‘formality’ or doing something with a bit of refrain, while its absence is called ‘be-takallufi’ or to say something without mincing any words. The above couplet is illustrative of how comfortable the be-takalluf poets like Jaun Eliya are with the word. In this

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16:09

Ranjish Hi Sahi... Why the Legacy of Ghazal Maestro...

Urdunama ·

2020/06/13

For poets like Ahmad Faraz and Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Mehdi Hassan was the preferred voice for their ghazals. For Lata Mangeshkar, his voice was like the voice of God. For the Indian subcontinent, Mehdi Hassan was indeed the 'king of melody' who inspired scores of singers after him. For India, Pakistan and Nepal alike, Mehdi Hassan was unrivaled. Born in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district, Hassan’s tryst with music began at the tender age of 6 under the tutelage of his father and uncle. After having

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