In this week’s Urdunama, we remember Dharmendra not only as Bollywood's "Greek-God" hero but essentially as a man defined by two qualities - Pur-kashish (full of charm) and Shaista-mizaaj (gentle in nature). From humble beginnings in Punjab to a stunning, record 300 plus film-career, he was a man in love with Urdu zabaan.

Join us for a brief tribute to a star whose charm and grace remain unforgettable.

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Tasalli is a feeling of comfort, reassurance, and emotional support. It is what helps the heart feel calm when someone listens without judgment, shares your pain or simply lets you be with your emotions. Urdu poets like Aarzoo Lakhnavi write about tasalli as the space to process grief, letting tears flow and giving the heart time to settle. or, rather the lack of it when the poet is also expecting more than just words to pacify him. Jan Nisar Akhtar shows how tasalli can come from presence and intimacy, like a hand on the heart or words that make someone feel truly seen. Hasrat Mohani writes about its fragile and cyclical nature, how peace can come and go and memories can trigger those familiar unsettling old feelings. And in the episode you will also find yourself in the embrace of Faiz’s reminder that you are your own biggest and most effective healer in his iconic nazm, Mere Humdum Mere Dost. So tune in. It’s time to heal.  

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In poetry, “Sannata” isn’t just silence but the stillness where everything stops. It is the absence of sound, of presence, of movement, yet it carries a strange weight. Poets like Gulzar, Ameer Qazalbash, Abbas Tabish and Manmohan Shukla ‘Talkh’ have turned this silence into a living emotion. For Gulzar, sannata comes sneakily, filled with the fear of losing someone. Ameer Qazalbash writes of a silence that feels like the aftermath of a tragedy. Abbas Tabish’s interpretation of sannata shows emotional distance between two people, And in Talkh’s verse, sannata becomes deeply personal, its the kind that takes away the sense of self.
Tune in to explore how sannata speaks louder than words.

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In Urdu, chain means comfort, meaning when the heart finally feels at ease. Bechaini is the opposite. It is the restlessness that keeps you awake, searching for something more, something else.
Poets like Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Shaikh Ibrahim Zauq, and Josh Malihabadi wrote from this space between calm and chaos. Maybe that’s what it is. Not choosing between comfort and restlessness, but learning to live with both and to let chain and bechaini speak to each other inside of us. Tune in as Fabeha Syed reads works of these masters among others. 

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Roshni, meaning 'light', in Urdu poetry is never alone. It gains meaning only when contrasted with darkness, whether that’s doubt, loneliness, or the moments that challenge our hearts. Poets show us that hope isn’t about perfection; it’s about courage, resilience, and the quiet moments when even a small glimmer can guide us.
From Shakeel Badayuni’s faith tested by doubt, to Bashir Badr’s morning breeze reminding us of small joys, and Waseem Barelvi’s light that moves and spreads wherever it can — roshni is alive and shared. In Urdu poetry, roshni is more than illumination. It is hope, presence, and the courage to shine even through the shadows of lurking tareeki meaning darkness. This Diwali, may we all try to stop looking for light outside, and become roshni ourselves. Tune in. 

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In this episode, we explore Urdu word Ranj, sorrow, grief, and the small heartbreaks that shape our lives. From Sahir to Dagh, Shakeel, and Irfan, each poet has experienced, expressed, and understood Ranj in their own way. Sometimes it becomes empathy, sometimes resilience, and sometimes a quiet irony.
We unpack these layers through poetry and reflection, showing how Ranj is not just about pain but also about how we feel, endure, and even find meaning in it. Tune in.

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In this episode, we explore the word Hazir — a simple word that means “present,” but in Urdu poetry it holds much deeper weight. With verses from Parveen Shakir and Ahmad Faraz, we look at how hazir shifts in its context and scope. the couplets curated in this episode reminds us that being hazir is never just about attendance. It’s about presence with all its complexity — love, loss, surrender, resistance — and it asks us what it really means to show up fully in front of another person, or in front of the truth.  Tune in.

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In this episode, we dive into the idea of ghaib — that mysterious, hidden side of life that we can’t fully see or grasp. We move from the mystical inspiration in Ghalib’s poetry, to the revolutionary energy in Chakbast’s ghazal, and the creative intinacy that echoes in Ahmad Salman’s verses, discovering how poets have drawn from the unseen to fuel creativity, emotion, and reflection.
But ghaib isn’t just a poetic idea. In real life, it’s a gentle reminder that we don’t have control over everything. We can’t always know what others are thinking, what the right outcome of our choices will be, or why certain things happen. And that’s okay. Understanding this allows us to focus on what we can control, while letting go of what we can’t.
Through poetry, reflection, and real-life lessons, this episode shows how embracing the hidden can bring clarity, patience, and a deeper sense of peace.

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What does it mean to 'dance' in Urdu poetry?

In this episode of Urdunama, Fabeha Syed explores Raqs, the movements, the madness, and the magic behind it. It's the kind that moves your heart, your soul, even the world around you.

We look at the ashaar of Majrooh Sultanpuri, Saghar Khayyami, and Abbas Tabish, and see how they turn dance into metaphor: the joy of little steps, the madness that takes over, the wild energy that can’t be contained. From playful, innocent moments to powerful, overwhelming ones, raqs shows us how poetry captures life in motion.

Tune in, and feel the rhythm of 'Raqs' through Urdu poetry.

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In this episode of Urdunama, Fabeha Syed explores the word Fursat, those rare moments of time when you can pause, breathe, and just be. What does it mean in Urdu poetry? We look at the ashaar of Ghalib, Faiz, and Sahir, tracing how each poet reflects on these small luxuries: the freedom to imagine, the quiet spaces that let life breathe, and the way even fleeting moments can feel enormous. From daydreaming about the beloved to feeling the weight of solitude and the world’s relentless pace, fursat becomes more than just leisure, it’s a window into the soul.  Tune in. 

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