A number of Bollywood personalities, including the likes of Rekha, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Vidya Balan attended the premiere of Raag Shayari, a Tribute to Kaifi Azmi on his birth centenary.
Urmila Matondkar, Dia Mirza, Vidya Balan, Farhan Akhtar, Shibani Dandekar and Juhi Chawla were also present for Raag Shayari
From last night at Raag Shayari, a musical tribute to Kaifi Azmi on his birth centenary 😇
— Juhi Chawla Mehta (@iam_juhi) January 14, 2019
Outfit : @anitadongre
Accessories: @koharjewelry
Styled by: @sujatarajain pic.twitter.com/RZb2L4wReG
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#urmilamatondkarA post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) on Jan 14, 2019 at 10:00am PST
The renowned Urdu poet and activist Kaifi Azmi, who was born in Uttar Pradesh, has penned some of his most celebrated songs for films Kaagaz Ke Phool, Shola aur Shabnam, Hanste Zakhm, Haqeeqat and Arth, and also written screenplays and dialogues for films Heer and Garm Hawa. The event saw singer-music composer Shankar Mahadevan singing a selection of Kaifi Azmi’s poems with Ustad Zakir Hussain at the tabla. Whereas Javed Akhtar recited some of Kaifi’s works in Urdu, Shabana Azmi also read out the English translations from the poet’s oeuvre. Shankar Mahadevan shared an image with Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi from the event.
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Thank you @azmishabana18 Ji and #JavedAktar ji for allowing us to be a part of such an amazing, important occasion where we got a chance to pay tribute to the great Kaifi Saheb🙏🏻 #RaagShayariA post shared by Shankar Mahadevan (@shankar.mahadevan) on Jan 14, 2019 at 7:29pm PST
Actor Anil Kapoor described the event as “magic on stage”
An evening full of poetry & music!
— Anil Kapoor (@AnilKapoor) January 15, 2019
Pure magic on stage!! In honour of @AzmiKaifi saab.@javedakhtarjadu, @azmishabana, #UstadZakirHussain, @Shankar_Live @stringstruck #DilshaadKhan & @soumil_ds directed by #FerozKhan pic.twitter.com/Gqfs9SkffI
Divya Dutta said that the evening was “spellbinding and emotional”.
Ajeeb aadmi tha wo.. @AzmiKaifi . What an amazing tribute to him on his 100 th bday..#raagshayari . Spellbinding and so emotional!! Shukriya @AzmiShabana @Javedakhtarjadu @ZakirHtabla @Shankar_Live for an eve to remember! pic.twitter.com/ZdxCCAiDcF
— Divya Dutta (@divyadutta25) January 14, 2019
Twinkle Khanna, who also attended the musical event, said that she returned home altered with the experience.
There are very few evenings where you return home altered by the experience and this was definitely one of them-magical poetry and music, an homage to #KaifiAzmi @AzmiShabana am holding it in my heart-have found Kaifiyat and listening to it this morning #RaagShayari pic.twitter.com/NQALLxlg18
— Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) January 15, 2019
Dia Mirza also shared a clip from the “magical, powerful, profound” event
A magical, powerful, profound experience. Homage to #KaifiAzmi Saab on his 100th birthday. “peḌ ke kāTne vāloñ ko ye mālūm to thā
— Dia Mirza (@deespeak) January 14, 2019
jism jal jā.eñge jab sar pe na saaya hogā”... Forever inspiring! @AzmiShabana @Javedakhtarjadu @ZakirHtabla @Shankar_Live #RaagShayari pic.twitter.com/pulpLtTtqJ