Watan, meaning a country, also means home, a place of residence. In Urdu poetry, nazms like 'Bachhe ki dua', and 'Parinde ki Fariyad', beautifully capture 'Watan' as an emotion.

Tune in as Fabeha Syed reads Allama Iqbal and Bismil Azeemabadi who fondly write about what Watan stands for them.  

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Qala's mesmerizing 'Shauq', written by Varun Grover is our song of the moment, because it points out the very need for various 'shauq', meaning desires and passions, in our lives. However, it also poses a question - are our desires killing us or building us? 

In this episode of Urdunama, Fabeha Syed reads poets like Parveen Shakir, Faiz, and Sahir, among others, who help us figure out what our 'shauq' in our life could be. 

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The movie and the soundtrack of Netflix's Qala is one to be counted among the OTT's finest productions. But what does the word 'qala' mean? When pronounced as kala which means art, it becomes an instant association as the movie is about art. 

Qala, however, has its origins in Arabic which means a fortress or a castle which in Hindustani is called qila. With Amit Trivedi's painfully haunting soundtrack underlying the brilliant wallpaper-like cinematography by Siddharth Divan, the movie is a sure treat for the eyes.

We picked out two songs from the film for our lessons in Urdu this week. Tune in as Fabeha Syed explores the themes of inkaar and iqraar.

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New year parties have always been a thing, and they should be so. In this new year special episode we try to figure out the degree of 'khumaar' that can hurt, and how much of that intoxication won't.

Tune in as Fabeha Syed explores the 'khumaar' of Urdu poetry and some of its forms that are needed in matters of love and life. Enjoy and have safe fun. 

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Born on 24th Dec 1924, legendary singer Mohammad Rafi became the golden voice of Hindi film music whose soulful numbers include romantic songs, qawwalis, shabad kirtans, and bhajans.

In this episode, we remember the maestro through his soulful bhajans. In this episode, songwriter Saurabh Gupta performs 'Ishwar Allah' on guitar. Tune in. 

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It's that time of the year when everyone ushers in the new beginnings by taking year-end vacations with their families, or to meet them. But a journey holds meanings other than that of travelling and vacations. For the uninitiated, it also means reflections and going deeper into self understanding. 

Tune in as Fabeha Syed reads poets like Javed Akhtar, Jigar Moradabadi, Nida Fazli, and Ahmad Faraz among others for their works on self discovery, learning, and wisdom. 

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Syed Hussain Sibt-e-Anwar Naqvi aka Jaun Elia was a poet of many shades. His poetry emanates from his scholarly intellect that resonates with readers who can find politics, philosophy, and a heart pining for unrequited love, all coming from the pen of one person. 

Tune in as Fabeha Syed reads some of his gems on heartbreak, loneliness, and despair.

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As the winter season sets in, a cup of warm soup, blankets and some soothing music can make most chilly nights feel like warm hugs. To add to this feeling, I am back with another episode on 'Sardi'; with shayari, poetry and as always, some singing. 

Tune in!

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Veteran actor Tabassum Govil passed away in Mumbai on 18th November at the age of 78. In this episode of Urdunama, we decided to give tribute to the legend by celebrating what she will always be remembered for - Tabassum meaning smile.

Tune in as Fabeha Syed reads Sahir Ludhianvi and Josh Malihabadi among others. 

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On the occasion of National Constitution Day, we thought of exploring the laws of nature that govern our survival. Is anarchism the very human nature, or the essence of the 'insaani-fitrat' lies in the balancing act to survive in a society?

Tune in as Fabeha Syed reads nazms from poets like Rais Amrohvi, Hosh Jaunpuri and Farhat Ehsaas. 

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