ALKHOBAR — It’s music time in the Eastern Province! Almost every week there is a musical evening hosted by some musical group or other. From jazz to seafront open raps, Indian classical and Bollywood numbers are all enthralling music lovers of the cities of Dammam, Al-Khobar and Jubail.
Music is celebrated in its all possible form on a very official level (concert at the US Consulate in Dhahran) as well as in informal gathering and random beach campfire. One such musical extravaganza gave a taste of Bollywood music of different era held recently at Classic Restaurant in Al-Khobar hosted by 3S Music Group (Sur, Sargam, Saughat).
It was a melodious evening giving glimpses of different genre and theme and reflecting different era of Bollywood music. Without any doubt amongst all the numbers, the songs of yesteryears reverberated through out the concert hall.
Ziaur Rahman with his “Khoya Khoya Chand” (Kala Bazaar 1960) took the audience an ultimate romantic level. The song was originally sung by legendry Mohammad Rafi for Late debonair star Devanand. Many present in the hall were not even born when this movie has hit at the theaters in India but they acknowledged that songs sung by Rafi, Mukesh, Lata Manageskar, Asha Bhonsle and Kishore Kumar have eternal value and will always rule the Bombay film industry.
Gopika Sunil of International Indian School mesmerized the audience with her soulful number “Aapki Nazron ne Samjha” originally sung by legend of the legends Lata Mangeshkar for film Anpadh, another release of ‘60s. Deepika showed tremendous control on her notes and has a sweet melodious voice. She was among the few who were brought to the stage the second time.
Rubab Fatima, now a very known voice in the Eastern Province for her melodious and mature singing, is a gifted girl with tremendous control on her notes and a wonderful understanding of Indian Ragas (melody framework). She bought the auditorium to a complete trance with her “Lag Ja Gale”, another Lata Mangeskhar hit number of ‘60s from the film “Who Kaun Thi.”
Ehsan Ahmad, the force behind 3S music group who was among the leading persons who organized the show, enthralled the audience with his “Jo Wada Kiya woh Nibhana Padega”, a Rafi popular number for the Film Taj Mahal — a superhit of ‘60s. Ehsan surprised the audience with is mastery over Tambourine. He sang the song only on Tambourine played by him.
Firoz Shah brought the audience back to present period with his “Hamari Adhoori Kahani.” It was then turn of Seemi Jafri and Arun Nair to virtually light the auditorium with their duet “Zara Sa jhoom loon mein” a “Dil Wale Dulhaniya le Jayenge number.” The audience, which was under the spell of ‘60s romantic melodies suddenly woke up to the present with this hit number. Shafeeq Ahmad also surprised the audience with his “Kuch bhi na Kaho’”, a popular number of 1942 Love story — Anil Kapoor-Manisha Koirala starrer of 2004.
But the star of the evening was Lawrence, who took the audience to all eras with his popular numbers. But his “Mein Hoon Don” brought the audience to its feet.
Earlier, Muzaffar Khan, president of 3S Group, welcomed the guests and audience and said that it was a humble beginning and assured people that they will keep training to ensure a better performance each time. He thanked all sponsors and guest of honor. Saudi Gazette was their media partner.
Mohammed Safeer VP started the proceedings of the event by introducing singers and musicians, The program was anchored by Mohammed Anasuddin and Mirza Majid Baig. Hadaf president Meraj Ansari was the chief guests and Nayeem Javed, Rehan Alam, Zaheer Baig, Asif Jamil, Syed Asif and Safi Hyder Jannaty were guests of honor.
The organizers also presented appreciation plaque to guests and performers as well as sponsors. The event was followed by dinner. — SG
