'Qisse Kahaniyaan' Podcast: Shiv Kumar Batalvi — Poetry, Passion & Pain

In the third episode of season 3, step into Batalvi's world with Alif, your host. Tune in!

In this episode of 'Qisse Kahaniyaan', we bring Shiv Kumar Batalvi's voice to life with our unique storytelling and narration about his times and his poetry.

(Photo: Athar Rather/The Quint)

Few poets have lived their verses as intensely as Shiv Kumar Batalvi. Hailed as the ‘Birha da Sultan’ (King of Sorrow), his poetry was a mirror to his aching soul, filled with longing, heartbreak, and the beauty of suffering. His words captured emotions so deeply that they continue to echo through time.

In this dramatised episode of Qisse Kahaniyaan, Batalvi returns through the voice of an artist, narrating his own poetic yet painful journey through his celebrated and controversial life.

A rebellious spirit, Batalvi often defied societal norms, challenging conventions with impassioned and controversial themes in his writing. Behind his brilliance lay a struggle with self-destruction, a torment that ultimately led to his untimely demise. 

His rise to fame was propelled by Loona, the epic verse-play that not only captivated readers but also earned him the distinction of being the youngest recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award. In time, he sealed his place as an immortal voice in Punjabi literature.

Was Batalvi a poet doomed by love or a misunderstood dreamer longing for what he could never have? Tune in to listen to his journey that remains raw, poetic, and unforgettable.

Anchor & Script: Athar Rather

Voice of Shiv Kumar Batalvi: Jaspreet Singh

Sound Design: Athar Rather

Executive Producers: Ritu Kapur, Shelly Walia