Talented poetess with an assertive feminist leaning, Aleena Itrat has participated in a number of mushairas and is considered one of the leading Urdu poetesses of her time.

One of the most prominent contemporary poets in the subcontinent, equally creative in ghazal and nazm

Fusing Amir Khusro’s kalaam with trance music, Kanishk Seth Trio is a group of three young experimental musicians from Mumbai. After producing and composing songs for world’s first Sufi-electronic album called Trance With Khusrow that was nominated for GIMA and Mirchi Music Awards in the Best Fusion Category, Kanishk Seth Trio performs classics of Amir Khusro and traditional thumris to create a surreal musical experience for audiences.

Formed in 2015 by classically trained guitarist Paulo Vinícius from Brazil and UK based vocalist Tanya Wells, Seven Eyes compose songs that bring together their diverse musical influences (which include Folk, Jazz, Brazilian, Hindustani classical music) with an aim to explore a confluence of cultures and languages.

Iram was formed by Neil and Gaurav to produce music with an artistic, experimental and avante-garde approach.
The duo met in Bangalore during a local gig, and they soon discovered common affinity for dreamy, ethereal textures with strong underlying musical concepts and lyrical themes. The band takes influences from Sufi music to post rock to minimalism.

Hussain Haidry is an Indian spoken word poet, writer and lyricist. He gained prominence when his poem Hindustani Musalmaan went viral on social media. He has written lyrics for Bollywood films, Gurgaon, Qarib Qarib Single and Mukkabaaz.

Dr Saif Mahmood’ is a New Delhi-based author, poetry and literature critic, commentator, translator, rights activist, and an Advocate of the Supreme Court of India. Founder of the South Asian Alliance for Literature, Art & Culture (SAALARC), Saif has won particular acclaim for his passionate recitations of Urdu poetry, especially of such progressive and contemporary poets as Faiz, Majaz, Sahir and Jaun Elia. His writings on literature and law and his English translations of Urdu prose and verse have appeared in several prestigious Indian and international publications.

Prominent Delhi based poet who is famous for his tanz-o-mizaah shayari.

Hailing from Chandpur, Bijnore, Shakeel Jamali started writing poetry at a young age. His ghazals have been sung by Altaf Raja. “Dhuup Tez Hai” is his poetry collection.

Active in the field of school education for over a decade, Gouri Chugh is currently working towards promoting vocational education. She developed an interest is Urdu poetry a few years ago. Her nazms have been published in Raushniyan – an anthology of poems by women poets from the subcontinent.

Young dynamic poet who is known for his great metaphorical images that he uses in his poetry.

Sikandar, in a very short time, has carved a niche for himself in Urdu, Hindi and Bhojpuri literary and cultural scenario. In the world of Urdu literature and national and international mushairas, Irshad is a known name. He also dabbles in acting, voice overs, script writing and editing. He is currently associated with Hindi magazine ‘Lafz’ as sub editor. The first anthology of his ghazals was ‘Ansuon ka Tarjuma’. His next collection ‘Doosra Ishq’ is also in the pipeline.

Soft yet powerful, this young poet never fails to impress.

Popular poet in the mushaira circiut

Ali Sethi is a singer and writer from Pakistan. Paying a tribute to the richness and timeless glory of Urdu, the talented singer from Pakistan, Ali Sethi, sang some famous renditions of lovely ghazals at the Florence Gould Hall, NY during Shaam-e-Rekhta NY.

Dr. Radhika Chopra, an exceptional Ghazal singer, is one of the few artists who has eschewed the new-age fusion music to retain the traditional, raga-based style. A purist at heart, she learnt Thumri, Dadra and Ghazal under the tutelage of Begum Akhtar’s legendary disciple, Smt. Shanti Hiranand.

Credited for reviving the lost art of oral storytelling, Mahmood Farooqui is a writer, director and performer. He is known for his excellent storytelling performances which present the tales of Hoshruba. Considered the world’s first magical fantasy epic, it narrates the adventures of the legendary Persian hero Amir Hamza.

A renowned dastango, Darain Shahidi is also a journalist and news presenter at GoNews24x7.com. He often collaborates with Mahmood Farooqui and narrates different tales including ‘Shahzaadi Chauboli Ki’ which is a recounting of Vijayan Detha’s Rajasthani folktale, Chouboli.

Carrying forward the rich legacy of saint Amir Khusro, the Nizami Brothers have carved a niche for themselves in the genre of Qawwali. Hailing from the Sikandra Gharana which has produced great qawwals, they have been performing at international events too. Armed with unshakeable command over their technique, they also sung for Bollywood films such as Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Rockstar.

Azhar Iqbal is a name widely recognized and followed in the world of Urdu poetry and literature. He is regularly featured at all the prominent Urdu/Hindi language festivals and Mushairas, including Jashn-E-Rekhta, Jashn-E-Bahaar, Shankar Shaad Mushaira and many others. Azhar’s performance and poetry has been charming audiences all across the country for many years now. His Ghazals are immensely popular among Urdu poetry lovers, young and senior alike, and his unique style of presentation is appreciated by all

Young and upcoming poet. Has been a part of the latest Jashn-e-Rekhta Grand Mushaira.

A notable contemporary Urdu poet, Farhat Ehsas is a specialist in traditional Persian and Urdu poetry whose work primarily dwells on the life of the common man, his miseries and fortunes, and of the repercussions of government excesses and corruption on his life. Farhat has been the editor of Qaumi Aawaz, a prestigious Urdu literary magazine in north India. In addition to this, he has been a commentator on current affairs with All India Radio and the Urdu Service of BBC.a