It is not often that you see a galaxy of internationally celebrated artists coming together. Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, singer and composer Shankar Mahadevan, lyricist Javed Akhtar, actor Shabana Azmi and filmmaker Feroz Abbas Khan have come together for a special premier show called ‘Raag Shayari' to mark the beginning of centenary celebrations for renowned poet and activist Kaifi Azmi.

‘Raag Shayari’ will be a special evening of music and Kaifi Saheb’s poetry conceived by Javed Akhtar and starring Ustad Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan, Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi and directed by Feroz Abbas Khan with production design by Anuradha Parikh.

Shabana Azmi says, “It will be an evening of archival value because Shankar Mahadevan will sing a selection of Kaifi Azmi’s poems. Javed Akhtar will recite them in Urdu and I will recite the English translations with Ustad Zakir Hussain interpreting the same on the tabla”.

Javed Akhtar adds, “The idea was to celebrate Kaifi sahab’s poetry and its essence. The reason we have Shankar Mahadevan singing it with Zakir Hussain sahab interpreting it on the tabla and Shabana and I reciting it in Urdu and English respectively is to show how Kaifi sahab’s poetry transcends boundaries of language and medium.”

Director Feroz Abbas Khan who is directing the show added, “It's a tribute to the greatness of Kaifi Azmi interpreted in different ways yet with a single thought running through the entire performance. With music, verse and song we are attempting to share the universality and timeless quality of Kaifi Saheb's poetry ”. 

Ustad Zakir Hussain says, “This is I think one of the first times where we are going to actually interpret the words and the rhythm elements through percussion along with the singing of Shankar Bhai to break the traditional sense of what the words are all about, and what Kaifi’s life was, and what a unique human being he was.”

Says Shankar Mahadevan, “When you hear the name Kaifi Azmi you can just imagine that you are getting associated with history because he was one of those, I wouldn’t say a poet I wouldn’t say a social activist, I wouldn’t say a film lyricists - he was a multifaceted, true legend in the true sense.”

Kaifi Azmi who is one of the finest Urdu poets of the subcontinent has borne witness to an entire era of social change. Born in Mijwan, Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Kaifi Azmi formerly known as Athar Hussain Rizvi wrote his first ghazal ‘Itna toh zindagi mein kisi ki khalal padey’ at the age of eleven. Considered to be a leading light of the Progressive Writers’ Movement, Kaifi Azmi's fame as a poet grew with influential poems including ‘Aurat’, ‘Taj and ‘Makaan’. Having written some of his most celebrated songs for films ‘Kaagaz Ke Phool’, ‘Shola aur Shabnam’, ‘Hanste Zakhm’, ‘Haqeeqat’ and ‘Arth’, he is also famously known for writing some of the best screenplays and dialogues for films ‘Heer’ and M.S. Sathyu’s masterpiece, ‘Garm Hawa’ among others. 

Recognized as one of the finest poets of our times, Kaifi Azmi has also received the greatest number of literary and poetry awards including the Padma Shri (Government of India), Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, Sahitya Akademi Award, Maharashtra Gaurav Award by Government of Maharashtra, Yash Bhartiya Award by Government of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi Government State Award, Soviet Land Nehru Award, Afro-Asian Writers Lotus Award, the most prestigious award from Vishwa Bharti University in Shanti Niketan and has been honoured with Doctorates from Purvanchal and Agra University with the Purvanchal University having instituted the ‘Kaifi Azmi Media Centre’ in Jaunpur. 

Throughout the year, Kaifi Azmi will be celebrated in the country and abroad with mushairas, plays, seminars, a pen festival and three book releases. 

‘Raag Shayari’ will have three shows:

-        13^th January 2019 at 7 pm at Tata Theater, NCPA. 

-        Presented as a fundraiser by Mijwan Welfare Society, the show will mark the birth centenary celebrations on 14^th January, 2019 at 7 pm at St. Andrews Auditorium, Bandra.

-        17^th January, 2019 at Nazrul Manch in Kolkata at 7 pm.