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birth anniversary, Jashn-e-Rekhta hosts the launch of Kyun, a collection of the legendary Urdu poet's previously unpublished work, compiled by Khalid Akhtar Ansari and Adeel Zaidi and released by Javed Akhtar.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

Taapsee Pannu opens up in a warm, honest and deeply personal conversation on Rekhta Guftugu.

From growing up in a middle-class Delhi household to studying engineering, modelling during college, entering South cinema, and eventually becoming one of the most distinct voices in Hindi films, Taapsee traces the journey that shaped her both as an actor and as a person.

She speaks about her mother’s influence, her rebellious streak, her conflicts within a patriarchal family setup, and the everyday struggles women face across professions.

Taapsee also reflects on the early mistakes she made in the film industry, being labelled “bad luck” after consecutive flops, and how she rebuilt her career by choosing films she herself would want to watch.

The conversation moves through her work in South Indian cinema, her shift to Hindi films, her experience working with Amitabh Bachchan, her love for science, her lockdown learnings, and her belief in living truthfully.

Known for films like Pink, Badla and Manmarziyaan, Taapsee brings the same clarity, courage and humour to this interview.

An episode about ambition, independence, womanhood, cinema, self-belief and the strength it takes to choose love over hate.

Ali Fazal comes to Jashn-e-Rekhta for a warm, candid, and deeply reflective conversation on cinema, Urdu, poetry, ambition, and the stories that shaped him.

Opening with a nazm, Ali moves from the grace of Lucknow’s tehzeeb to his childhood memories of films, books, and language. He speaks about being born in Delhi and raised in Lucknow, the influence of his mother, his early connection with theatre and Shakespeare at Doon, and the difficult years that taught him fearlessness.

The conversation also traces his journey from Bollywood to Hollywood, including Victoria and Abdul, Death on the Nile, and his work as a producer with Pushing Buttons Studios. Ali reflects on craft, ambition, plagiarism versus inspiration, Urdu pronunciation in cinema, the responsibility of artists, and why he still feels he has not “arrived.”

From personal memories to sharp industry observations, this session brings together cinema, literature, language, and a rare honesty that stays with you long after the conversation ends.

A grand mushaira from Jashn-e-Rekhta Dubai, bringing some of Urdu poetry’s most loved voices together on one stage.

This Sunday Special captures the best moments from Dubai Mushaira 2025, where Javed Akhtar, Zehra Nigah, Waseem Barelvi, Abbas Tabish, Khushbir Singh Shaad, Sarosh Asif and Shakeel Jazib fill the evening with nazm, ghazal, wit, silence, applause and that rare mehfil energy only a live mushaira can create.

From Javed Akhtar’s sharp reflections to Zehra Nigah’s grace, from Waseem Barelvi’s emotional depth to Abbas Tabish’s lyrical command, each poet brings a different shade of Urdu to the mic. The audience listens, responds and becomes part of the poetry itself.

An episode for those who love Urdu, shayari, live performances and the feeling of being inside a hall where every verse lands straight in the heart.