Mumbai, 25th September 2025: The Rekhta Foundation, in collaboration with the Harish Bina Shah Foundation, brought alive a magical second edition of Shaam-e-Rekhta at the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point, on 21st September. Reaffirming its stature as one of Mumbai’s most awaited cultural celebrations, the evening witnessed houseful auditoriums, thunderous applause, and standing ovations, turning into an unforgettable tribute to the timeless charm of Urdu poetry, music, and culture.
This year’s overwhelming demand led to two stagings of Rang Aur Noor (Urdu Shairo’n Ke Filmi Shahkaar), a spellbinding stage production conceived, written, and directed by Rekhta Foundation’s Trustee & Creative Director, Huma Khalil (Author, Filmmaker). Seamlessly blending dance, live singing, music, and cinematic nostalgia, the show paid homage to Urdu poets whose verses defined the golden era of Hindustani cinema. Featuring stellar performances by Shinjini Kulkarni, Amrish Mishra, Supriya Joshi, Sarvesh Mishra, Yamika Mahesh, Shruti Mishra, Anupama Kaushik, and others, both the 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM stagings received rousing ovations from an enthralled audience.
As the evening progressed, the much-anticipated Rekhta Mushaira brought together some of India’s most celebrated voices of contemporary Urdu poetry. Literary stalwarts such as Javed Akhtar, Popular Meeruthi, Iqbal Ashhar, Shakeel Azmi, Nusrat Mehdi, Moin Shadab, Vikas Sharma Raaz, and Azhar Iqbal captivated listeners with their verses on love, longing, wit, and life. Carrying forward the cherished tradition of Urdu poetry gatherings, the Mushaira created moments of intimacy, reflection, and joy that resonated deeply across generations.
Reflecting on the response, Huma Khalil, Creative Director, Rekhta Foundation, said:“Shaam-e-Rekhta is a celebration of the soul of Urdu, its poetry, music, and cultural elegance. With this second edition in Mumbai, our aim was to create a space where language and performance transcend boundaries, inspiring a renewed appreciation for Urdu’s timeless beauty across generations.”
With both shows running house full and audiences leaving with cherished memories, Shaam-e-Rekhta Mumbai 2025 not only highlighted the cultural relevance of Urdu but also reaffirmed its enduring power to bring people together.
