Breaking |

Breaking |

Kaifi's writings were not just revolutionary, but also romantic: Shabana Azmi
Published : Jan 26, 2019, 1:41 pm IST
Updated : Jan 26, 2019, 3:26 pm IST
SHARE ARTICLE
Shabhana Azmi
Shabhana Azmi

Shabhana Azmi remembers all her father Kaifi Azmi's "revolutionary poems" by heart, it was only after reading translations...

Jaipur, Jan 26: While actor Shabhana Azmi remembers all her father Kaifi Azmi's "revolutionary poems" by heart, it was only after reading translations of his works that she discovered his writings were a fine mix of "revolution and romance".  "It was only of late when (diplomat-turned-politician) Pawan Verma translated Kaifi and he said, 'how beautifully Kaifi combines the revolutionary and romance together'... that is when I realised it is actually so," she said.

Azmi was speaking in a session titled "Jan Nisar and Kaifi" along with her lyricist and writer husband Javed Akhtar (son of writer Jan Nisar), and Varma.  Akhtar said a similar mix of romance and revolution could be found in the works of several writers of the Progressive movement including Urdu author Hasrat Mohani who one one hand coined the slogan "Inquilab Zindabad", and on the other hand also penned "Chupke chupke raat din", one of the most romantic ghazals. 

Advertisement

Javed AkhtarJaved Akhtar

"In fact, it was Mohani who once said that he is always ready to sacrifice his life for the country's freedom, but never expect him to not write romantic poetry," Ahtar said. Talking about Kaifi's famous poem "Aurat", which asks a woman to walk shoulder to shoulder with a man, Azmi said it was this verse that convinced her mother Shaukat Kaifi to marry him. "This poem was written 70 years ago when roles of men and women were pretty defined, men had to go out and earn the living, and women were supposed to be at home and do the household chores," she said. 

The 68-year old actor, however, confessed that she did not appreciate that for most writers back then, it seemed love ceased to exist after marriage.  Citing Faiz's celebrated poem 'Mujhse pehli si mohabbat mere mehboob naa maang (Beloved, don't ask me to love you as I loved you before)', she said,"It seems all love is lost after the marriage."  However, she admitted that Jan Nisar Akhtar, her father-in-law, was a rare exception. "He put all actions of his wife very beautifully in his poetry," she said.

Advertisement

Location: India, Rajasthan, Jaipur

SHARE ARTICLE

PTI

Advertisement
Advertisement

Punjabi boy turns out to be ISI spy, youth was sending information about Operation Sindoor

17 May 2025 3:52 PM

Operation Sindoor: Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif admits Nur Khan Airbase Was Attacked

17 May 2025 3:50 PM

Farmers clash with police in Bathinda

17 May 2025 3:49 PM

Another big statement from Donald Trump; What did India offer? Heated issue on Tariff

17 May 2025 3:47 PM

Turkey Faces Costly Clash with India, Company Shut Down

16 May 2025 7:35 PM

Farmers and Police Clash in Bathinda: Youth Now Leading the Protest

16 May 2025 7:31 PM
Advertisement