Gulzar and Divya Dutta on Urdu Poetry, Nazm, and Life Stories | Sunday Special at Jashn-e-Rekhta

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:   / jashnerekhtaofficial   Rekhta Books: https://rekhtabooks.com/ Rekhta Learning: https://rekhtalearning.com/-