Kolkata is gleaming right now for tonnes of artists are flocking it on the occasion of Tata Steel Literary Meet 2023. The star-studded events reached a whole new level when legendary poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar Saheb and evergreen actress Shabana Azmi, his better half, graced it.
Akhtar was part of two discussions, namely – ‘Talking Life‘ Ft. on gathering life, making memories with Nasreen Munni Kabir, in conversation with Sangeeta Datta, and ‘Morning with Poets’, which also included Shabana Azmi and Sumantra Ghoshal discussing the poetry of Kaifi and Jan Nisar in conversation with Mudar Patherya.
Javed Akhtar On Shabana Ji and his family
Interacting with the audience on this occasion, Javed Saheb had some very funny yet interesting details to share about his equation with Shabana Ji and his family.
When asked about the secret to him and Azmi being together for so many years, Akhtar said with a tinge of humor and life lesson…
“To be together, one needs some basic match that stays along the way. But every couple is bound to have differences. I differ from Shabana almost every day, mostly on petty things. When we were about to build our house, we had the maximum conflict. What tiles to use, what would be the color of the wall, where to place the sofa, it all was about to culminate into a divorce.”
Javed Saheb and Shabana Ji come from the most famous lineage of poets. They themselves became stalwarts of their industry, and now their children are taking forward the legacy. A member of the audience was curious to know how he is as a father and husband.
To this, Javed Saheb said, ”When I was a child, I was known by my father’s name. When I grew, I was finally making my own. Then Shabana Ji happened. Everyone started to know me as her husband. Now everyone knows me as Farhan’s father. Thankfully when a girl in her 20s or 30s runs to me at the airport to get an autograph or selfie, I still feel that people know me.”
On aspiring poets and writers
There were many who wanted to talk about literature as well. Of them, a guy recited his writing and asked Javed Saheb to review it.
“I see you have passion. But what’s wrong with your generation is that you need to intake before giving it out. So, read more, learn the techniques,” Akhtar said as a piece of advice to budding writers and poets.
“Nonetheless I hear so many wonderful poets and Shayars in Pakistan, India, and many more countries. They are so good that even I learn from them. Your generation is already inspired,” he added.
Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet 2023 will end on January 26.