First not invited, then interrupted: Javed Akhtar leaves poetry fest in a huff

Javed Akhtar, who was in the course of his session at a poetry fest in the city on Sun day, was visibly upset after he was abruptly stopped because deputy CM Manish Sisodia was waiting for his turn to speak. While moderator Shazia Ilmi, a former AAP and current BJP member, called it unacceptable, many young fans of the poet left the audi with him.

Also, according to the event's Facebook page, the organisers had initially not invited Akhtar. A post, uploaded a night be fore the event on their page, read, "So what happens when you get a call from Javed Akhtar saab scolding you for not inviting him formally to the Delhi Poetry Festival, Season 3? You simply apologize, say a quiet prayer and do what you're asked to do ­ invite him over formally."

After Akhtar's almost hour-long session, when he started answering questions from the audience, requests for poems poured in.

But when the event's volunteers started tak ing away microphones from audience mem bers, Akhtar said, "Let's not delay things, kavi ta phir kabhi kar lenge." But the audience kept requesting, "Ek poem sir, bas ek." As the chorus of requests reached a crescendo, the anchor announced, "Manish Sisodia ji bhi aa gaye hain, aur bahar khade hain." At which Ilmi commented, "Toh kya hua, Sisodia ji thoda intezaar kar lenge."

But Akhtar got up and walked out of the audi, straight to the parking lot and then dialled his driver's number. The organisers followed him outside, and one of them, Sanjay Arora, said, "Sir, galti toh hui hai humse, maafi chahenge."

Akhtar just said, "Ab khatm karein," and sat in the car and left without responding to any questions.

After he left, even Prasoon Joshi went out, while Piyush Mishra left after exchanging greetings with Sisodia.We overheard Ilmi saying, "Javed sahab pehle se hi naaraaz thay, unhe festival mein bulaya tak nahin, aur ab aise pesh aaye. Log yahan Javed sahab ko sunne aae hain ya Manish Sisodia ko? Look, most people from the audience left after him."

Sanjay responded to our queries with, "Pehle aap itna bada event organise kariye, phir apko pata chalega." Later, he was heard discussing with colleagues that it was a "major goof-up."

When we told Sisodia that Akhtar was asked to end the session because of him, he asked us, "Achha? Session beech mein roka gaya? Kitni der ka session tha aur kitni der mein band kiya?"