About
Askari Naqvi is a dastango and exponent of the soz and marsiya traditions from Lucknow, carrying forward the classical Urdu arts of oral narration and elegiac recitation. He performs dastangoi, the Urdu storytelling form, alongside the deeply melodic soz khwani, bringing Lucknow's refined literary and devotional culture to contemporary audiences.
Rooted in Lucknow's Urdu literary and devotional culture, Askari Naqvi trained in and performs the soz, salam and marsiya traditions as well as dastangoi, part of the wider revival of Urdu oral arts. He presents these forms at cultural events and festivals in India and abroad, working to keep the classical Lucknawi traditions of narration and elegy alive.
The artistry
Naqvi works across two rich Urdu oral traditions: dastangoi, with its intricate, immersive spoken narration, and soz and marsiya, the melodic elegiac forms associated with Lucknow. His performances draw on a deep command of Urdu language and Awadhi tehzeeb, presenting both classical dastans and elegiac recitation with refinement.
[Atlas Perspective] Askari Naqvi is a refined exponent of Lucknow's Urdu oral traditions, spanning dastangoi and soz. For Urdu literary festivals and heritage programmes, he is a strong, distinctive choice.
Askari Naqvi helps sustain two of Lucknow's classical Urdu oral traditions, dastangoi and soz khwani, keeping the city's literary and elegiac heritage alive for contemporary audiences.