Chakiwara Mein Visal [Attached to the Chakwara]

De: Muhammad Khalid Akhtar

Narrado por: Fawad Khan

Mohammad Khalid Akhtar (Urdu: محمد خالد اختر‎), born 1920 in Bahawalpur, died February 2, 2002), was an Urdu-language writer. His satirical novel Chakiwara Mein Visalfrom (1964), won the Adamjee Literary Award.

"The greatest novel in the Urdu language." (Faiz Ahmed Faiz)

A small Karachi neighbourhood, Chakiwara is humdrum and unspectacular to all appearances. But inside its shops and at the street corners, there is curious business afoot. Chronicling the drama that unfolds daily is Iqbal Hussain Changezi, bakery owner and collector of writers and geniuses. He has his eyes on out-of-work comedian Chakori, apprentice to a Chinese dentist, even as the town's mostly unsuccessful healer of physical and spiritual maladies prepares to unleash his top-secret invention, the love meter. Muhammad Khalid Akhtar presents a world at once familiar and peculiar but always surprising, his unforgettable characters keeping alive the old ways in a quietly changing Karachi in post-independence Pakistan.

Chakiwara Mein Visal is a true testament to the wit, sagacity, and quiet brilliance of one of the greatest storytellers of his time.

Please note: This audiobook is in Urdu.

©2020 Urdu Studio (P)2020 Urdu Studio

Such fun!

The story is full of eccentric characters that are still very much believable and rooted it’s time and culture. Namely that of 1960s Karachi and it’s literary world. Narrator couldn’t be better. Sensitive to the nuances of the characters. A real joy to listen to.

What a narration

کتاب بلاشبہ لطیف مزاح سے بھرپور تھی تاہم فواد خان صاحب نے جس طرح مکالمات کی ادائیگی کی ہے، بخدا میں حضرت کا پنکھا معتقد ہوچلا۔

Narration makes the story more interesting

This audiobook offers a captivating exploration of societal duality through the lens of Muhammad Khalid Akhtar’s timeless work. Each character serves as a vivid reflection of traits and realities we are all aware of but often choose to overlook or rationalize, making the story an intriguing commentary on human nature and societal norms. The intricate web of personalities showcases the subtle hypocrisies and unspoken truths that underpin our world, allowing the listener to ponder deeply about their surroundings.

What truly elevates this audiobook experience, however, is Fawad Khan’s masterful narration. His voice becomes a living, breathing character in its own right, bringing unparalleled depth and nuance to the story. The rise and fall of his tone each crest and trough aligns perfectly with the emotional landscape of the narrative. Khan’s ability to distinguish between characters through subtle changes in pitch and tone is nothing short of phenomenal.

His performance not only brought Akhtar’s words to life but also introduced me to the beauty and complexity of this literary masterpiece. Fawad Khan’s narration transformed a good novel into an unforgettable experience, making it accessible and enjoyable in ways that felt fresh and personal. It’s a brilliant convergence of great storytelling and exceptional voice acting that I wholeheartedly recommend.