Urdu India to revive Kashmir’s iconic Ladishah

Kashmir’s traditional folk art form Ladishah is all set to make a comeback, this time on the digital platform Urdu India.

The platform is preparing to revive the popular satirical and humorous folk tradition, which once enjoyed a strong following among television audiences in Jammu and Kashmir.

Urdu India will soon announce the name of the new performer and its official launch date.

From ETV Urdu to Urdu India

The revival of Ladishah on Urdu India has a strong connection with its earlier television journey.

In 2014, Rajesh Raina, then Group Editor, conceived the idea of introducing Ladishah as a dedicated segment on ETV Urdu. The idea was to bring Kashmir’s traditional folk art to television and introduce it to a wider and younger audience.

The Ladishah segment written by Rajesh Raina, was performed by renowned Kashmiri artist Rajinder Tickoo, who became closely associated with the television version of Ladishah.The segment soon became popular among viewers and emerged as one of the memorable cultural features of ETV Urdu.

Tickoo passed away in February 2026, leaving behind a rich legacy in Kashmiri theatre and folk performance.

For many who watched the ETV Urdu programme, his Ladishah performances remain a memorable part of Kashmir’s television history.

“We don’t want the tradition to disappear”

For Rajesh Raina, the revival is also an emotional continuation of an idea that began more than a decade ago.

Speaking about the initiative, Raina said:

“Rajinder Tickoo gave Ladishah a distinctive identity through his voice, wit and performance. When we introduced it on ETV Urdu in 2014, our intention was to take a traditional Kashmiri art form to a larger audience. Today, through Urdu India, we want to give that tradition a new life.”

He added:

“Ladishah was never merely about entertainment. It was a way of reflecting society, questioning realities and making people think through humour. We want to preserve that spirit while presenting it in a format that connects with today’s digital audience.”

Urdu India’s initiative is not intended simply to recreate the old ETV Urdu programme. The platform plans to give the traditional format a contemporary digital identity while retaining its core character—satire, humour, poetry and social commentary.

The new programme is expected to explore contemporary issues, everyday life, social changes and public concerns through the distinctive language of Ladishah.

The initiative also aims to introduce the tradition to younger audiences who may have little or no familiarity with the traditional performers who once kept it alive.

Urdu India is currently working on the format, presentation and other details of the new Ladishah programme.

The official name of the performer  and launch date will be announced soon.

For Urdu India, the revival of Ladishah is more than the launch of another entertainment programme. It is an attempt to reconnect Kashmir’s younger generation with a unique part of its cultural heritage.

A tradition that once echoed through Kashmir’s streets and stages, and later reached television audiences, is now preparing to find a new home in the digital world.