Cineink

31/10/2024

آپ سب کو دیوالی کی مبارکباد!
Wishing all my friends a happy Diwali!

05/10/2024

‎سنے انک کی پوڈکاسٹ سیریز 'اردو باغ' میں نور ظہیر کے ساتھ یہ بیحد دلچسپ گفتگو سماعت فرمائیے جس میں نور اپنے والد سجاد ظہیر اور رضیہ سجاد ظہیر کے ہمعصروں کا ذکر کرتے ہوئے ایسے نایاب قصّے سناتی ہیں جو صرف انہیں کی ملکیت ہیں.

Writer, activist and theatre director, Noor Zaheer shares memories of her parents, Sajjad Zaheer and Razia Sajjad Zaheer, legendary writers and founders of the Progressive Writers Association.

“My father Sajjad Zaheer and poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz were initially involved in discussions regarding leading an agitation against PM Liaquat Ali Khan’s government in Pakistan but were never a part of the Rawalpindi Conspiracy Case of 1951. They were framed,” says Noor Zaheer.

She also talks about her marriage with Yavar Abbas, veteran BBC broadcaster who would be celebrating his 104th birthday in October, 2024.

Noor Zaheer is in conversation with broadcaster Pervaiz Alam, discussing; her books, politics, PWA, Urdu’s most controversial book Angarey, how Rawalpindi Conspiracy Case of 1951 unfolded leading to the arrest of Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Sajjad Zaheer, why a controversial novel on poet Majaz by her mother Razia has not been published. For the first time we hear an insider’s view.
https://youtu.be/4MjTP5jfMXg

11/05/2024

Veteran journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta is in conversation with me on London Vārta: Freedom of Speech, a Cine Ink podcast series in both audio & video. Thakurta says, arm-twisting through legal means and harassment of journalists by the current govt in India is to create an atmosphere of fear leading to “a chilling effect”. And there’s a word for it, SLAPP, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta explains: Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation. The process is the punishment, Thakurta adds.

Arm-twisting through legal means and harassment of journalists by the current govt in India is to create an atmosphere of fear leading to “a chilling effect”...

07/07/2023

नींद क्यूँ रात भर नहीं आती - نیند کیوں رات بھر نہیں آتی

"Thou shalt not commit adultery" but people still do it. Having extra marital relations with one or two persons is different than indulging in mass promiscuity, says renowned psychiatrist, Dr Salman Akhtar. Adultery attacks the basic institution of family, adds Dr Akhtar. So why do people enjoy doing it? Why some marriages fail? How does it feel to be in a marriage where adultery is a norm? Why do women tend to accept it despite living a hellish life with their spouse? What’s the acceptable way out? Why filmmakers, writers and poets are so much intrigued by the ‘affairs’. Finally, adultery in many cases leads to depression, mental trauma and suicides as well. And, what about the so called ‘Crimes of Passion’!

I am pleased to launch the 2nd season of Cine Ink podcast series on mental health ’Neend Kyun Raat Bhar Nahin Aati’ in Hindi/Urdu. The first episode is on Adultery and Dr Salman Akhtar is in conversation with me.

'Neend Kyun Raat Bhar Nahin Aati' focuses on mental health related issues with the world-renowned psychoanalyst and psychiatrist, Dr Salman Akhtar, who has been a professor of psychiatry and Human Behaviour at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, USA, for more than 40 years. He’s also a distinguished Urdu poet.

Mental health problems affect millions of us, in our families, communities and workplaces. Please consult an expert if you are in doubt.

This is a video podcast of the Cineink series in Hindi/Urdu 'Neend Kyun Raat Bhar Nahin Aati’ (नींद क्यूँ रात भर नहीं आती - نیند کیوں رات بھر نہیں آتی), seas...

01/07/2023

My dear facebook family- ‘Neend Kyun Raat Bhar Nahin Aati’(नींद क्यूँ रात भर नहीं आती - نیند کیوں رات بھر نہیں آتی) is back with fresh episodes in a brand new season 2. And, this time the podcast series will be available in both formats, audio and video. Hopefully, I will be uploading the first episode on Friday, 7 July. Dr Salman Akhtar will be in conversation with me, talking about ‘Adultery’.

जुर्म था पर बहुत मज़े का था
जिस को चाहा वो दूसरे का था
— सलमान अख़्तर

‎ جرم تھا پر بہت مزے کا تھا
‎جس کو چاہا وہ دوسرے کا تھا

‎سلمان اختر

I think most of you know that ‘Neend Kyun Raat Bhar Nahin Aati' is a podcast series in Hindi/Urdu focusing on mental-health related issues with the world-renowned psychoanalyst and psychiatrist, Dr Salman Akhtar. These issues affect millions of us, in our families, communities and workplaces, and they come in various disguises. As Faiz said: Dard aayega dabe paaon liye surkh chiragh.

In case, some of you want to catch up with the first series, I produced 8 episodes, two years ago. They are available on all major podcast networks such as Apple, Spotify, Google and YouTube.

Episode 01: How Covid Impacts on Time, Space, Things, Animals, Money and God
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQGFgVRJZKc&t=10s

Episode 02: The Three Steps You Must Take To Feel Mentally Strong
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofHQfRPld8w&t=6s

Episode 03: Every Fear Hides A Wish - Dar Kyun Lagta Hai!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msnKQ_lRIVQ

Episode 04: Kabhi Kabhi Tau Bada Khauf Sa Lage Hai Mujhe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaOGod8ZLMA

Episode 05: The Impact Of Greed Laalach Lobh Hirs On Your Personality
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euUUk-notTQ&t=712s

Episode 06: Men Are Greedier Than Women But There's A Catch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b08KptMdq0g&t=5s

Episode 07: Impotent Rage Leads to Hatred
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4XvcYWP6ZI&t=48s

Episode 08: Ek Achchha Sa Badla Aur Ek Achchi Si Maafi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EV2H7KyyMw&t=207s

urdupodcast

19/06/2023

URDU BAGH

EP 01: Urdu Poets Khaleel ur Rehman Azmi & Kamal Siddiqi: Huma & Sumaiya Share Memories of Their Family

I’m pleased to launch a new podcast, URDU BAGH (اُردُو بَاغ - उर्दू बाग़), a series of anecdotal history, celebrating the life and work of Urdu’s literary giants, mainly through the memories of their family members, friends, historians and activists.

Huma Khalil and Sumaiya Kamal Siddiqui are in conversation with me. Both of them are first cousins, and daughters of eminent Urdu poets, Khaleel-Ur-Rehman Azmi and Kamal Ahmed Siddiqi, respectively. Another Urdu legend, Shahryar, is also their family. They share their memories and anecdotes associated with their families.

Khaleel-Ur-Rehman Azmi:
تری صدا کا ہے صدیوں سے انتظار مجھے
مرے لہو کے سمندر ذرا پکار مجھے
तिरी सदा का है सदियों से इंतिज़ार मुझे
मिरे लहू के समुंदर ज़रा पुकार मुझे
tirii sadaa kaa hai sadiyo.n se intizaar mujhe�mire lahuu ke samundar zaraa pukaar mujhe

Huma’s father, Khaleel-Ur-Rehman Azmi (1927 – 1978) of Aligarh fame is considered one of the founders of new nazm in Urdu. Scholar, Critic, Academic and poet, Azmi is widely respected for initiating a new trail in Urdu criticism with his books which are prescribed all over the world in various universities and colleges as a part of the Urdu syllabus. He is known to have taught Urdu to the legendary Urdu scholar, Prof Ralph Russel of SOAS, London.

Khalil-ur-Rehman Azmi’s books include Kaghzi Pairahan, Naya Ahad Nama, Nai Nazm Ka Safar, Fikr-o-Fan, Zawiay-e-Nigah, Mazameen-e-Nau, Muqaddama-e-Kalam-e-Aatish, Taraqqi Pasand Tahreek, Urdu Mein Taraqqi Pasand Adabi Tahreek and Zindagi Ai Zindagi.

Kamal Ahmed Siddiqui:
کچھ لوگ جو خاموش ہیں یہ سوچ رہے ہیں
سچ بولیں گے جب سچ کے ذرا دام بڑھیں گے
कुछ लोग जो ख़ामोश हैं ये सोच रहे हैं
सच बोलेंगे जब सच के ज़रा दाम बढ़ेंगे
kuchh log jo ḳhāmosh haiñ ye soch rahe haiñ
sach boleñge jab sach ke zarā daam baḌheñge

Sumaiya’s father Kamal Ahmed Siddiqi (1926- 2013) was a poet, broadcaster, writer, scholar and a painter who spent most of his working life at All India Radio in Srinagar, Kashmir as a programmer.

A Phd from JNU on Ghalib, Kamal Ahmed Siddiqui is known to have interviewed and recorded a large number of legendary Urdu poets of his time such as Jigar Moradabadi, Josh Malihabadi and Firaq Gorakhpuri for All India Radio and Doordarshan. He cherished his friendship with Urdu stalwarts such as Majaz, Mira Ji, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Ali Sardar Jafri, Ale Ahmad Suroor, Khaleel-Ur-Rehman Azmi, Ehtesham Hussain, Akhtarul Iman and Showkat Siddiqui.

He authored several books including Baadbaan, Jawahraat, Kohsar Gaate Hain, Intekhab, Bayaz e Ghalib: Tahqeeqi Jayaza, Urooz aur Ahang, Urooz Marooz, Kashmir Ek Manzarnama, Ghalib Ki Shanakht & Muqadma e Zaban e Urdu.

SHAHRYAR:
سیاہ رات نہیں لیتی نام ڈھلنے کا
یہی تو وقت ہے سورج ترے نکلنے کا
सियाह रात नहीं लेती नाम ढलने का
यही तो वक़्त है सूरज तिरे निकलने का
siyaah raat nahii.n letii naam Dhalne kaa�yahii to vaqt hai suuraj tire nikalne kaa

Akhlaq Mohammad Khan ‘Shahryar’ (1936 – 2012) was an academic, poet and lyricist who went on to receive the prestigious literary awards in India, Sahitya Akademi and Jnanpith, for his collection of poems, Khwab Ka Dar Band Hai.

He became a household name as a film lyricist for writing songs in films such as Gaman, Umrao Jaan and Anjuman. Shahryar published his first poetry collection ‘Ism-e-azam’ in 1965, followed by other collections ‘Satvan Dar’, ‘Hijr Ke Mausam’ and 'Khwab Ka Dar Band Hai'.

Urdu Bagh is a podcast series produced by Pervaiz Alam and Achala Sharma for Cine Ink, a hub of podcasts, based in London.Presented and produced by Pervaiz Alam for London-based, Cine Ink, a hub of podcasts in Hindi and Urdu languages, the series ‘Urdu Bagh’ is available on all major podcast networks.

Please click the following links to listen to Urdu Bagh:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVxqfuFoRIE&t=879s

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/urdu-bagh/id1692939966?i=1000617277900

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/78WIMXOCNt9Mcuy77pwCGk?si=dWrXefeWQT6JdWVmTmr8mQ

08/06/2023

Podcast Alert

The life and work of Indian film actor Irrfan Khan (1967 – 2020) is the subject of a new book ‘Irrfan: A Life in Movies’ by Shubhra Gupta who is in conversation with Sangeeta Datta in the 9th episode of ‘My Book’ podcast show. The book has been published by Pan Macmillan.

In this episode, Shubhra Gupta discusses the art and legacy of Irrfan Khan, one of India’s finest actors, known for his stellar performances in films such as The Warrior, The Namesake, Haasil, Maqbool, The Lunchbox and Pan Singh Tomar.

The book ‘Irrfan’ by Shubhra Gupta, renowned Indian Express columnist and film critic, focuses on Irrfan’s films with leading film personalities such as Sutapa Sikdar, Shailja Kejriwal, Shyam Benegal, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Vishal Bhardwaj, Naseeruddin Shah, Mira Nair, Konkona Sen Sharma, Anup Singh, Tillotama Shome, Karan Johar, Anurag Kashyap, among several others.

Sangeeta Datta, the presenter of this episode, is a writer, filmmaker, musician and curator based in London. Her books on cinema include World Director Series: Shyam Benegal and the co-edited Rituparno Ghosh: Cinema, Gender and Art and Tagore: The World As His Nest. Her filmography includes the Life Goes On and her new documentary, Bird of Dusk.

The podcast show ‘My Book’ is produced by Achala Sharma and Pervaiz Alam for Cineink, based in London.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/01EhLNOyU2XCzWiYKIIwSm?si=-Vy4TiJCQXG9vKEt6rzdVA

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/my-book/id1677551143?i=1000616115338

Cineink: https://www.cineink.com/podcast/my-book

Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/user/cineink/my-book-ep-09-irrfan-by-shubhra-aup3

21/04/2023

Chiragh-e-Dair by Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib (1797-1868) is a long poem in Persian on the Indian holy town, Benares. In the 6th episode of Cine Ink podcast ...

31/03/2023

MY BOOK EP 03: Q***r Sapien’s Author Sharif Rangneker on LGBTQIA and his life as a Gay Man Delhi-based Sharif D. Rangnekar, a gay man, writer, diversity evan...

23/03/2023

‘Kashmiris are normal human beings; they should not be demonised’ Once in some years, a book arrives that fills you with deeper understanding of an issue you thought you knew too well. The Greatest Kashmiri Stories Ever Told, selected and translated by Professor Neerja Mattoo, is such a volume. ...

23/03/2023

https://www.cineink.com/podcast/when-kashmiris-tell-their-own-stories

‘Kashmiris are normal human beings; they should not be demonised’ Once in some years, a book arrives that fills you with deeper understanding of an issue you thought you knew too well. The Greatest Kashmiri Stories Ever Told, selected and translated by Professor Neerja Mattoo, is such a volume. ...

16/03/2023

https://www.cineink.com/podcast/sam-millers-book-is-a-story-of-us-all-and-yet-toxicity-around-migrants-is-only-going-to-grow

One cold and windy morning in London, with the promise of a fabulous home-cooked meal at the end of the recording, Sam Miller and I sat in the studio of my producers, Achala Sharma and Pervaiz Alam from Cine Ink, to talk about his latest book. ‘Migrants- The Story of Us All’ by Sam Miller …