Veteran actress Shabana Azmi feels saddened by that fact that Hindi movies, that once used to protect the Urdu language, no longer do the same.

“If you compare today's songs with the songs of the 1960s and 1970s, then definitely today's songs are according to the demand. But if you see, Hindi films used to protect the Urdu language as they used it but it is slowly dying and I feel bad for it," said Shabana Azmi at the Tahzeeb Gangojaman - A Unique Mushaira.

The actress is married to veteran poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar, who read some of this poetry during the event.

Shabana Azmi said she considers Javed Akhtar to be a ‘great poet’.

“I consider Javed Akhtar a great poet, not because he is my husband but because his poems are his own voice and not affected by anyone else," Shabana Azmi said.

The mushaira was hosted by writer-director Rumi Jaffery and Shashi Ranjan.