Lucknow and shayari go hand in hand — like a well-brewed cup of chai and a winter evening. The city of the Nawabs, has been home to some of the greatest Urdu poets and storytellers and mushairas that's gave birth to them. This symposium of, spoken word artists was a regal affair. Urdu poetry, with its delicate rhythm and sharp wit, flourished under the patronage of Mughal and Nawabi rulers. Mushairas would stretch deep into the night, where poets tested their craft. Even today, the tradition holds strong in the cultural festivals of Lucknow, where poetry still reigns supreme.
One such poet who carries forward this legacy is Sarwar Nawab. His journey into shayari began in 1965, mentored by his father, Anwar Nawab. His connection to Lucknow’s poetic heritage runs deep, tracing back to the Sheesh Mahal royal family. Taqi Abbas, through his Instagram project, 'Lucknow Uncovered', captures this story with a quiet intimacy. His lens brings forth the weight of tradition and the beauty of carrying forward an art form that is slowly fading into memory.
After his tenure as the founder and director of Tart Media House, Taqi decided to pursue his passion for creative direction and storytelling whichnledmhim to create Lucknow Uncovered. Through the platform he has been diving into the rich heritage of the city through its food, culture, people, and architecture. These mini stories are produced in a video format, each being an episode in a journey through everything that makes Lucknow.
Some of these stories include the Jauzi Halwa, a winter dessert made from a powdered form of wheat called 'samnat'. still made by the. The halwa, slow-cooked with saffron, nutmeg, and rich dry fruits, is a generational recipe guarded by only a handful of traditional old families or 'khandaan' in Lucknow; one of which is the Sheesh Mahal family. Taqi, in his video captures the making of the halwa which takes 3-4 hours to prepare while he narrated the history behind it.
His style is inherently documentarian but he doesn't shy away from employing fiction when necessary. In his story about Pachisi, the royal board game played in the grand courts of Awadh, Taqi’s brings this forgotten pastime back to life with the rolling dice, the waft of fresh paan, the ornate hookah, and the easy banter of players draped in silk who pose for the video, recreating a moment of play and camaraderie from ancient Nawabi culture.
In, Shahi Tabarruk, Taqi sheds light on the sacred culinary tradition tied to Muharram. Introduced by King Muhammad Ali Shah, it involves the preparation and distribution of meals like Khameeri Roti, Aloo ka Salan, and Bakarkhani from the historic 'Shahi Bawarchi Khana'. The ritual, upheld by the Husainabad Trust, has continued for centuries — though the artist does , mention the decline in quality he has seen in recent years.
Lucknow Uncovered has amassed a substantial following through Taqis’ ability to tell stories through visuals. His videography doesn't solely depend on aesthetics but uses cinematography as another tool for storytelling. The soft etiquette or 'tehzeeb' that we associate with the people of Lucknow comes through his videos as well. His camera lingers on the city’s grand havelis, the intricate chikankari embroidery, the sizzle of kebabs on charcoal grills, and the slow, deliberate making of a paan. The custodians of century-old recipes, traditions and history open their doors to him, knowing he will do justice to their legacy, in turn making one of the city itself.
Follow Taqi here.
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