8 GREAT POETS ALONG WITH 400 FILM STUDENTS PAID TRIBUTE TO LATE NIDA FAZLI AT WHISTLING WOODS INTERNATIONAL CAMPUS
‘Aaj Ki Shyam – Nida Fazli Ke Naam’ – a mushaira evening hosting well-known poets and lyric writers was organized by Subhash Ghai for the students of Whistling Woods International (WWI), the film and media school, to pay tribute to the legendary poet and lyricist Nida Fazli. He was known for his famous poems like ‘Duniya jise kehte hain jadoo ka khilona hain’, ‘Kabhi kisi ko mukkammal jahan nahi milta’ and many more to remember forever. Nida Fazli passed away on February 8, 2016. No other shayari (couplet) is best suited to describe the loss of great Hindi & Urdu poet, Nida Fazli who wrote ‘where Krishna met Allah’.
Remembering and paying tribute to him, eight eminent poets from across the nation came together on the stage of WWI auditorium including Swanand Kirkire, Kausar Munir, Danish Javed, Jalees Sherwani, A M Turaz, Mayur Puri, Deepti Mishra and Shakil Azmi, who regaled the students of filmmaking and media with their best of poems and recitation.
Swanand Kirkire of Parineeta, Paa, Barfi! and PK fame recited a new poem for the first time for the students amidst thunderous applauds. Mayur Puri who has films like Happy New Year and Bajrangi Bhaijaan to his credits paid his tribute to Nida Fazli with his own poem on the deceased poet.
Kausar Munir who penned the lyrics for films like Tashan, Ishqzaade, Dhoom 3, Bajrangi Bhaijaan recited her poem, ‘Mast Calender’, narrating the moods of every month of the year in her contemporary style. While Shakil Azmi who has won more than 11 literary awards and authored several books, left the students thinking with his thought-provoking poetry. Renowned poetess Deepti Mishra revealed her great experience with Nida Fazli and recited beautiful poems. A M Turaz, poet and lyricist of Guzaarish, Bajirao Mastaani, Wazir and many more made the evening more exciting with his beautiful yet meaningful poems narrated in a unique manner. Famous writers Danish Javed and Jalees Sherwani managed to strike a chord with the students by sharing dark-edgy yet simple shayris (couplets) based on life. Witnessing into the excitement in students and the audience, the entire session was extended upto three hours.
The entire programme was followed by the screening of a documentary on the evolution of poetry made the students. The 8 poets congratulated Subhash Ghai and his team of 5th VEDA cultural hub at WWI who encourage the importance of poetry and language amongst the students in the campus.
Appreciating the students’ enthusiasm and understanding of Mushairas, Danish Javed said, “If younger generations like you starts appreciating poetry, this art form will never die, rather the poets will live and be remembered through their poems and couplets, forever.”
