Syed Manzar

Founder & CEO of Axis Softmedia Inc. | Software Scientist |
Innovating Urdu for Print, Web, Mobile, Broadcast & AI

A New Chapter in Urdu Typography: A Historic Merger with InPage

I am proud to announce a landmark development for Urdu digital publishing. Following a successful agreement, all my signature typography projects including the renowned Manzar font series (Naskh, Noori Nastaliq, Lahori Nastaliq) and Ali Nastaliq have been officially merged into the industry-standard InPage Urdu software by Concept Software Pvt. Ltd., effective September 30, 2025. This strategic integration means these advanced fonts and the powerful typesetting tool will soon be available to the public under the InPage brand (e.g., InPage Naskh, InPage Ali Nastaliq), unifying the best tools to propel Urdu publishing into a new era. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in making sophisticated Urdu typography more accessible than ever before.

Syed Manzar Hasan Zaidi thumbnail
About Me

I’m a software scientist and entrepreneur from Mumbai, India, with a lifelong interest in how technology can preserve and promote linguistic and cultural heritage. My work focuses on making complex scripts like Urdu easier to create and publish in the digital world. I’ve always believed that technology should serve creativity, not complicate it. This belief shaped my journey into developing tools that help people express their ideas beautifully in their own languages. For me, every project is an opportunity to contribute not just to the growth of software, but to the continuity of art, literature, and knowledge in native languages.

Career
  • My professional journey began in the early 1990s, when I started working on Urdu computing and typesetting technologies.

    In 1990, I founded my first company under the name Axis Computers. Later, from 2000 to 2018, it operated as Axis SoftMedia Pvt. Ltd., and since 2018, it has continued under the name Axis SoftMedia Inc.

    Over three decades, I have worked on several Urdu software and font development projects from the first Urdu ASCII Naskh fonts used in InPage Urdu Software, to advanced Unicode-based broadcasting systems, Quran publishing tools, and Adobe InDesign plugins.

    Through Axis, my goal has always been to blend traditional beauty with modern precision, helping Urdu find its rightful place in the digital age.

    Between 1990 and 2000, our team created customized Urdu and Hindi fonts for many corporate publishing houses. At that time, it was common for every publisher to have a font made under their own brand name. Since we were the first RTL (Right-to-Left) language font developers in India, we received significant work from both India and Pakistan. In fact, nearly 80% of the fonts circulating in the market today even those that later became pirated were originally developed by us over the past three decades.

    During that period, the copyright of each font legally belonged to the client, and as per our agreements, we were not permitted to disclose their names publicly. However, a few clients later gave permission, and those fonts have been listed on our website.

    Even today, in 2025, Axis SoftMedia continues to design customized Urdu fonts for modern publishing needs.

    Our latest work, Tauheed Nastaliq, represents a major advancement in Urdu typography. It is a ligature-based Dahelvi school calligraphy style, designed with state-of-the-art technology. It offers full aerab (diacritic) support that automatically adjusts over each ligature something previously not possible in Nastaliq fonts.

    In terms of design quality, readability, and precision, Tauheed Nastaliq surpasses earlier classics like Noori Nastaliq and Faiz Nastaliq in every aspect.

    Over the years, I’ve worked on various Urdu font systems, typesetting solutions, and design tools always with one goal: to make Urdu and other complex scripts more accessible and beautiful across print, digital, and web platforms.

Products

Our product development journey began in the year 2000.

Our first commercial product was ZAKHARIF, a three-volume collection of Islamic clip arts, borders, tughra designs, and patterns a true treasure for Urdu publishers and designers. Each volume came with its own CD and was widely appreciated across India and Pakistan. Unfortunately, due to excessive piracy and unauthorized online sharing, we had to discontinue it in 2010.

Around 2006, we began working on a completely new challenge one that had never been attempted before in the history of Urdu fonts. This led to the creation of Faiz Lahori Nastaliq (ASCII), a Lahori school calligraphy style ligature-based font.

Faiz Nastaliq became the world’s second ligature-based Urdu font, and the first in the world to incorporate kasheeda (calligraphic stretching) within ligatures, following Noori Nastaliq created by Mirza Ahmad Jameel. What made Faiz Lahori Nastaliq truly groundbreaking was its ability to apply artistic stretching inside ligatures, allowing specific words to be elongated gracefully without breaking the natural flow of the script. This innovation brought unprecedented flexibility and aesthetic control to Urdu publishing a concept so successful that kasheeda support was later integrated into Noori Nastaliq as well.

The creation of Faiz Lahori Nastaliq was a long and dedicated process. Unlike fonts drawn by hand, this one was digitally traced from the handwritten works of renowned calligrapher Faiz Mujaddid by Late Dr. Rehan Ansari. Each two-letter ligature was carefully traced, refined, and combined into a complete system a process that took nearly three to four years of continuous effort.

In 2008, we collaborated with Concept Software Pvt. Ltd. to develop two specialized editions of InPage Urdu:

  • 1. InPage Al-Maktab – designed for educational use in madrasas,
  • 2. InPage Al-Nashir – made for small DTP operators, and

Faiz Lahori Nastaliq was officially launched in InPage Urdu Version 3.0. A few years later, around 2012–2013, following internal changes at Concept Software, both InPage Al-Maktab and InPage Al-Nashir were discontinued. At that time, we separated Faiz Lahori Nastaliq and Noori Nastaliq from InPage and converted it into a Unicode font, later making it freely available for public use where it remains accessible even today.

Our work continued steadily through the following years, producing several major fonts and software solutions for Urdu and Arabic publishing. Today, Axis SoftMedia continues to create customized fonts and AI-powered tools that preserve the elegance of Urdu while using the most modern digital technologies.

Products I Have Worked On

  • 1. Digital Aalim AI-Based Islamic Chatbot :

    Digital Aalim is an innovative AI-powered platform developed by Axis SoftMedia Inc. that serves as a comprehensive Islamic knowledge resource. This digital tool provides instant access to authoritative religious guidance through its extensive fatwa database drawn from esteemed Islamic institutions. The platform stands out for its multilingual capabilities, allowing users to ask questions and receive answers in their native language, including Arabic, Urdu, English, and Persian.

  • 2. Mudeer Urdu AI Assistant :

    Mudeer is a specialized AI chatbot developed by Axis SoftMedia Inc. that focuses exclusively on empowering Right-to-Left (RTL) languages including Arabic, Urdu, Persian, and Kashmiri. This innovative platform serves as a comprehensive tool for writers, educators, and literature enthusiasts by offering sophisticated writing assistance, advanced translation services, and dedicated literary composition features.
    The platform provides robust writing tools for generating and refining content, from articles and speeches to SEO-optimized texts. Its literature hub enables users to compose traditional poetic forms like Ghazals, Naat, and Elegy, while its translation services preserve cultural nuances and literary beauty across languages. Additionally, Mudeer functions as an educational chatbot, offering personalized learning, literature analysis, and cultural context to help users deepen their understanding of RTL languages and literatures, making it an invaluable resource for preserving and advancing these linguistic traditions.

  • 3. Rekhta (AI Based Poetry Generator)

    Rekhta is an innovative AI-powered platform that revolutionizes the creation of Urdu poetry, seamlessly blending traditional artistic principles with cutting-edge artificial intelligence. Designed for both beginners and seasoned poets, this tool empowers users to compose authentic shayari with proper baher (meter), qaafiya (rhyme), and radeef (refrain).
    The platform features a sophisticated AI Shayari Generator that creates poetry in classical forms like Ghazal and Nazm, along with a unique Correction Tool that provides instant feedback to refine existing verses. Built on the foundation of Ilm-e-Arooz (prosody) and trained on specialized Urdu language models, Rekhta ensures every generated poem maintains authentic rhythm and structure. Completely free and mobile-friendly, it serves as a comprehensive digital companion for anyone looking to explore, learn, and create within the rich tradition of Urdu poetry, making the art form accessible to a new generation of enthusiasts worldwide.

  • 4. Voice of Urdu – Digital Platform Initiative

    Voice of Urdu is an international news platform dedicated to serving a global audience with comprehensive coverage of world events. Committed to journalistic integrity, the website delivers timely and reliable news while bridging linguistic divides through its innovative language toggle feature. This unique functionality allows readers to instantly switch between English and Urdu versions of the same content, ensuring accessibility for diverse audiences worldwide.
    By providing parallel content in both languages, Voice of Urdu maintains editorial consistency while catering to multilingual readers' preferences. This dual-language approach not only enhances user experience but also demonstrates the platform's dedication to inclusive journalism that transcends language barriers. Whether accessing international politics, business updates, or cultural stories, readers can engage with authentic reporting in their preferred language, making Voice of Urdu a truly global news destination that connects communities through shared information and cultural understanding.

  • 5. Manzar Typesetting Tool for Adobe InDesign :

    The Manzar Typesetting Tool is a revolutionary Windows plugin for Adobe InDesign that transforms Perso-Arabic script publishing. Specifically designed for Arabic, Urdu, and Persian typography, this groundbreaking tool bridges the gap between traditional calligraphy and digital design by providing unprecedented control over complex right-to-left scripts.
    Its comprehensive feature set includes precision tools for adjusting Nuqta (dots) and Aerab (diacritical marks), multiple Kasheeda elongation options, advanced kerning for Nastaliq script, and an integrated Urdu spell-checker with over 250,000 words. The plugin also offers specialized panels for text carving, position adjustment, and Quranic composition, empowering publishers, designers, and calligraphers to achieve typographic perfection. By seamlessly integrating professional-grade typesetting capabilities directly into Adobe InDesign, Manzar enables users to produce exceptionally elegant and accurate Perso-Arabic publications with workflow efficiency previously unavailable in digital publishing.

  • 6. Ali Nastaliq (Unicode) :

    Ali Nastaliq represents a groundbreaking advancement in Urdu digital typography as the first character-based Dahelvi Nastaliq font. Designed in 2012 by senior calligrapher Arif Anjum and programmed by Nastaliq expert Syed Manzar Zaidi, this font family revolutionized digital calligraphy by moving beyond the limitations of traditional ligature-based systems.
    The font's innovative character-based approach provides unprecedented creative control, featuring multiple Kashish (elongation) options and precise control over individual Nuqta (dots) and Aerab (diacritical marks). Unlike earlier Nastaliq fonts, Ali Nastaliq offers full Aerab support and optimized spacing, making it particularly valuable for newspaper headlines and formal publications where typographic perfection is essential. Currently exclusive to the Manzar Typesetting Tool, this font combines traditional calligraphic elegance with modern digital flexibility, offering professional publishers and designers a sophisticated tool for creating visually stunning Urdu compositions that maintain the authentic beauty of hand-crafted Nastaliq script.

  • 7. Ali Nastaliq Web (Unicode) :

    Ali Nastaliq Web is a revolutionary Urdu font specifically engineered for digital platforms, bringing the authentic beauty of Dehlavi-style Nastaliq calligraphy to websites and mobile applications. Developed by Axis SoftMedia Inc., this font represents a major technical achievement in Urdu typography, solving the long-standing challenge of rendering the complex Nastaliq script smoothly across browsers and devices.
    With a remarkably lightweight file size under 500KB, Ali Nastaliq Web ensures fast loading times without compromising visual quality. It offers universal compatibility across all major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) and mobile operating systems (iOS and Android), eliminating the need for fallback fonts or image-based workarounds. This character-based web font provides native readers with the comfortable, authentic reading experience they expect from traditional Nastaliq, making it the ideal choice for news portals, literary websites, and mobile applications seeking to deliver culturally genuine Urdu content with optimal performance and accessibility.

  • 8. Manzar Noori Nastaliq (Unicode) :

    Manzar Noori Nastaliq represents both the preservation and evolution of Urdu digital typography. Originally developed in 1981 through the collaboration of Ahmed Mirza Jamil and Monotype Imaging, Noori Nastaliq became a foundational font for Urdu publishing, earning recognition as an "Invention of National Importance" by the government. For decades, it served as the standard for major Urdu publications, though its initial ligature-based design limited typographic flexibility.
    In a significant revitalization effort, Axis SoftMedia has reimagined this classic font under the guidance of Syed Manzar. The comprehensive redesign transformed Noori Nastaliq into a Unicode-compliant font with individually redesigned characters and refined Kashish (elongation) capabilities. This modernization, while maintaining the authentic elegance of Mirza Jamil's original creation, has been honored through the font's new name Manzar Noori Nastaliq ensuring both pioneers' legacies endure in this bridge between traditional calligraphy and contemporary digital publishing needs.

  • 9. Manzar Lahori Nastaliq (Unicode) :

    Manzar Lahori Nastaliq represents a significant milestone in Urdu digital typography as the world's first ligature-based Lahori Nastaliq font to incorporate Kashish (elongation). Originally developed between 2005-2008 as Faiz Nastaliq, this font was the visionary creation of the late Dr. Rehan Ansari at Axis SoftMedia, who meticulously traced ligatures from the original works of calligrapher Faiz Mujadid.
    The font underwent a major transformation in 2017-2019, transitioning from ASCII to Unicode under the programming expertise of Syed Manzar Zaidi. This comprehensive upgrade included redesigned characters and enhanced Kashish options, leading to its rebirth as Manzar Lahori Nastaliq. Developed as a distinctive alternative to the dominant Dahelvi style represented by Noori Nastaliq, this font brings the elegant Lahori tradition of Nastaliq calligraphy to contemporary digital publishing. Now featuring in the Manzar Typesetting Tool, it continues to serve professional publishers across the Indo-Pak region, preserving a rich calligraphic heritage while embracing modern typographic flexibility.

  • 10. Manzar Naskh (Unicode) :

    Manzar Naskh is a groundbreaking digital font that brings the clarity and tradition of Indo-Pak Naskh calligraphy to modern Quranic publishing. Designed in 2010 by senior calligrapher Arif Anjum and developed by programming expert Syed Manzar Zaidi, this font specifically addresses the needs of South Asian Quranic layout with its emphasis on readability and aesthetic balance.
    Unlike traditional Quranic fonts, Manzar Naskh offers unprecedented typographic control, allowing publishers to achieve the fluid elegance of handwritten manuscripts. Its innovative features include multiple shape variations for each word, dynamic Kashish (elongation) options, and granular control over Nuqta (dots) and Aerab (diacritical marks). These capabilities enable perfect text justification and layout flexibility previously impossible in digital typesetting. Trusted by leading publishers across the Indo-Pak region, Manzar Naskh stands as a digital bridge between centuries-old calligraphic tradition and contemporary publishing needs, ensuring every Quranic page reflects both precision and artistic grace.

Services

All our specialized offerings

  • Custom Font Design

    Bespoke font creation for Urdu, Arabic, Persian, and other RTL scripts with typographic excellence.

    Custom Font Design

    I create bespoke fonts for RTL scripts, ensuring typographic excellence and cultural authenticity. My designs are crafted for seamless use in digital and print platforms, meeting the needs of multilingual typography.

  • Content Digitization

    Transforming legacy content into digital formats while preserving RTL script integrity.

    Content Digitization

    I convert legacy content into digital formats, preserving the integrity of RTL scripts. My services include OCR, document conversion, and digital archiving, making archives accessible and modernized with precision.

  • Text-to-Speech (TTS) & Speech-to-Text (STT)

    TTS and STT systems optimized for RTL languages, delivering natural-sounding audio and precise transcription.

    Text-to-Speech (TTS) & Speech-to-Text (STT)

    I develop TTS and STT solutions optimized for RTL languages, producing natural-sounding audio for audio books, e-learning, and accessibility tools, tailored to linguistic nuances.

  • RTL Chatbot Development

    Building multilingual chatbots for RTL scripts that ensure engaging, culturally relevant user experiences.

    RTL Chatbot Development

    I build intelligent, multilingual chatbots for RTL languages, designed for engaging user experiences in customer support, e-commerce, and more, ensuring cultural relevance and platform compatibility.

  • RTL App Development

    Custom mobile and web apps built with full RTL support for global multilingual audiences.

    RTL App Development

    I design and develop custom mobile and web applications optimized for RTL scripts, delivering intuitive and robust solutions that meet high linguistic and technical standards for global audiences.

  • Consulting & IT Integration

    Expert consulting and integration support for multilingual publishing and design workflows.

    Consulting & IT Integration

    I also provide consulting, integration, and IT outsourcing services to support multilingual publishing and design workflows. My focus is on quality and innovation, empowering clients to succeed in RTL-focused markets.

Projects
SunSilk Font
Typography & Branding

SunSilk Font

Developed a unique dotted font for SunSilk’s multilingual advertising campaign. The font supported ten languages, including Urdu, Gujarati, and Bengali, ensuring consistent visual appeal and branding across diverse scripts.

Multilingual Font Design
ETV Nastaliq
Broadcast Typography

ETV Nastaliq

Created an advanced on-screen Nastaliq text rendering system for ETV News Channel. It enabled real-time display of tickers, headlines, and breaking news with high readability and authentic calligraphic elegance.

News Typography
Nawayeti Naskh
Cultural Preservation

Nawayeti Naskh

Designed the Nawayeti Naskh font to give written form to the oral Nawayeti language. This initiative helped preserve a centuries-old linguistic tradition by enabling digital literature, education, and cultural documentation.

Language Digitization
Asadi Naskh
Quranic Typography

Asadi Naskh

Digitized the refined Naskh calligraphy of Khaliq-ul-Asadi for Quranic publications. Multiple shapes, kasheeda, and stylistic flourishes were faithfully captured to retain the aesthetic and spiritual essence of the script.

Quran Publishing
Saleem Naskh
Font Engineering

Saleem Naskh

Converted the calligraphy of Saleem into a programmable OpenType font optimized for both print and digital media. Known for its clarity and balanced proportions, it became widely used in Pakistan’s publishing and advertising sectors.

OpenType Development
Manzoor Naskh
Calligraphy Digitization

Manzoor Naskh

Created the Manzoor Naskh font inspired by a century-old Quran manuscript. Featuring more than 14,000 ligatures, it was designed for enhanced legibility, making it ideal for Quranic education and children’s publications.

Educational Font
News18 Nastaliq Integration
Web Typography

News18 Nastaliq Integration

Integrated Ali Nastaliq font technology into News18 Urdu’s digital platform. The project improved cross-browser readability while maintaining the authenticity of Urdu typography for online journalism.

Digital Urdu Font
Tauheed Nastaliq
Religious Publishing

Tauheed Nastaliq

Developed Tauheed Nastaliq — a high-ligature Dahelvi-style Nastaliq font created specifically for Quranic and tafseer publications. With over 27,000 ligatures and full Arabic diacritic support, it represents a new standard for digital Urdu publishing.

Advanced Nastaliq Font
Achievements

Fakhar -e- Urdu Award

Urdu Carvan Mumbai, India

13 Dec 2019

Most prestigious awards for the Urdu Community in Mumbai, granted by the Urdu Carvan Mumbai, India

Out Standing Innovation Award

Maeeshat Medai Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India

29 Jan 2016

In recognition to his work on Ali Nastaliq honoured him with Out Standing Innovation Award 2015. M. Q. Syed (Director, EXHICON GROUP) handed over the award on behalf of the Maeeshat Media.

NABA Award

NABA Quran Academy, Mumbai, India

15 Aug 2015

In recognition to his work on digital Quranic calligraphy honoured him with NABA Award. Maulana Azadar Khan (Director NABA) handed over the award on behalf of the Naba society.

Momento of Appreciation

BhindiBazaar.asia, a literary forum

10 Sep 2013

Conferred Special Award for his dedication, commitments, devotion for Urdu Language is highly commendable, which has immensely helped in the promotion, protection, preservation and progress of Urdu Language. Mr. Saeed Hameed (Chief Editor) handed over the momento.

Promotion and Digitization of Urdu Language

Maharashtra State Urdu Sahitya Academy, a government headed literary forum

17 Jul 2012

Conferred Special Award for his promotion and digitization of Urdu language. Honourable Chief Minister of Maharashtra Mr. Prithviraj Chavan handed over the award.

Digital Calligraphy Award

Unique Educational Society in Mumbra, Thane district, Maharashtra, India

08 Apr 2012

Conferred on him Digital Calligraphy Award for his contribution to digitize Urdu script. He was honoured by Nationalist Congress Party MLA, Jitendra Awhad on behalf of the society.

Mohammad Ali Johar Urdu Computing Award

Abu Huraira Model School Society, Firozabad, UP, India

11 Mar 2012

In recognition to his work on Digital Urdu Calligraphy honoured him with Moulana Mohammad Ali Johar Urdu Computing Award. Dr Noor Mohammad, IAS (Indian Administrative Service) handed over the award on behalf of the society.

Excellence in Urdu Computing

Pasbaan-e-fun - an organization of artists, calligraphers and painters

01 May 2009

Syed Manzar received an award underlining his achievements and excellence in Urdu computing at a function felicitating people of high repute in the field of art and language by Pasbaan-e-fun. They recognized the services of Urdu Fonts, calligraphic fonts developed by Syed Manzar and his small team of researchers. The new fonts, especially Faiz Nastaliq and Manzar Indo-Pak Naskh, were greatly appreciated by the eminent judges on the panel.