Ghazal Ke Shayar, a five-episode mini-series under Cine Ink’s Urdu Bagh series, explores the evolution of Urdu ghazals from the late 16th century to the present. Based on Prof. Anisur Rahman’s book Hazaaron Khwahishein Aisi: The Wonderful World of Urdu Ghazals (HarperCollins India, 2019), the series features conversations between Prof. Rahman, a bilingual poet, translator, and former Jamia Millia Islamia professor, and broadcaster Pervaiz Alam.

Prof. Anisur Rahman was awarded ‘Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize’ for “The Wonderful World of Urdu Ghazals”, an English translation of the Urdu poetry collection “Hazaaron Khwashishein Aisi”. 

In this episode, Prof Rahman discusses Khwaja Altaf Hussain Hali, Shaad Azimabadi, Hasrat Mohani, Mohammad Iqbal, Fani Badayuni, Asghar Gondvi, Yaas Yagana Changezi, Jigar Moradabadi and Firaq Gorakhpuri. 

Presented and produced by Pervaiz Alam for London-based Cine Ink, a hub for podcasts in Hindi and Urdu, the series is also accessible on major social media platforms, including YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. On X: @pervaizalam. All Cine Ink podcasts can be found on its website, www.cineink.com.