DD Bharati to air 'Akhtari ki mehfil aur Kaifi Azmi..'- Documentary on Begum Akhtar

To mark and celebrate the centennial birthday of ghazal queen, Begum Akhtar, poet Yatindra Mishra and musician Kumud Diwan have made a documentary titled

'Akhtari ki mehfil aur Kaifi Azmi..' recently.

The show brings the fulgent Begum and celebrated poet, ghazal writer and reciter of that era, Kaifi Azmi along with a few other archival performances of Begum Akhtar that are hand-picked and woven together for a wonderful telecast.

DD Bharati will broadcast the show at 9 p.m. today.

Union Culture Minister Shripad Naik today released a set of commemorative coins of Rs.100 and Rs.5 to mark the occasion.

Akhtar Bai Faizabadi, popularly called Begum Akhtar (October 07, 1914 -October 30,1974) was a famous Indian singer of Ghazal, Dadra and Thumri.

She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for vocal music and was awarded Padam Shri and Padam Bhushan (Posthumously) by Government of India. She was given the title of Mallika-e-Ghazal (Queen of Ghazals).

On completion of 100 years of this versatile genius, the Government of India has decided to commemorate the occasion by organizing some programmes that includes Centenary festivals in Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Bhopal and Kolkata, Web Portal and digitization/ documentation of the legacy of Begum Akhtar, exhibitions and workshops, publications, seminars and a scholarship to young artists.