An Evening with Javed Akhtar

At a global arts festival in Dubai, a chance invitation transforms an ordinary night into a memory carved in sweetness and cinema.

- Seema Sangra

On a crisp winter evening in Dubai, the Tahibib Festival at the India Club brought the city alive with poetry, art, and a global celebration of creativity.

Day two of the festival brought together filmmakers, writers, scholars, psychologists, sportspeople, musicians, painters, and performers from around the world.

But for most of us, the main attraction was Javed Akhtar’s appearance at the mushaira.

As a devoted admirer, missing it was simply not an option.

The event began with performances by local singers, followed by a special set from Audis Band, a group of visually and physically challenged musicians from Mumbai.

The soulful qawwali by the Sabir Brothers further set the mood, leading up to the grand finale of the day, the mushaira.

The audience buzzed with anticipation, all eyes waiting for Mr. Akhtar to take the stage.

When the anchor finally announced his name and he walked onto the stage, the moment felt electric.

He recited exquisite, carefully chosen poems and shared intimate, captivating stories.

For the South Asian audience, it was pure enchantment, a collective spell woven by his words.

By the time the event ended and I stepped out of the venue, it was already quite late. I was tired, hungry, and ready to head straight home when my phone buzzed.