RAWALPINDI: It was journey down memory lane at the Sham-i-Ghazal held at Rawalpindi Arts Council auditorium where renowned semi-classical and ghazal singer Munni Begum performed.

A recipient of Pride of Performance award, Munni Begum started her performance with her famous ‘Awargi Me had Se Guzar Jana Chahye’.

This was followed by ‘Tumhare Shehr Ka Mausam Bada Suhana Lage’, ‘Ek Bar Muskura Do’, ‘Bhoolne Wale Se Koi Kehde’ and ‘Ae Mere Humnasheen Chal Kahin Aur Chal’.

The audience remained absorbed in her ghazals and kept applauding her.

Munni Begum continued to perform for over two hours.

The singer who started off in the 70s is presently living in the US.

Tahir Pasha, who had specially come to RAC to listen to the singer, said her ghazals had taken him back to his youth.

“I used to listen to her cassettes and her programmes on radio,” Mr Pasha said. He said his favourite ghazal was ‘Eik bar Muskara do’, adding that such great singers should be invited to the art councils.

Another participant, Raja Ghazanfar, said listening to singers like Munni Begum was nothing less than the treat. He said her voice was still young and she sang all the ghazals perfectly.

“Mehdi Hassan, Noor Jehan and Munni Begum are my favoruites. The present songs can never take the place of such melodious numbers of the past,” he added.

Mrs Tariq Ahmed, another participant, said she was a fan of Munni Begum and she herself used to sing her ghazals when she was studying at Government CB College Saddar.

She said the Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) should also invite classical dancers.

“There is no government organisation in Rawalpindi that promotes classic dances,” she said.

Among the audience were Senator Najma Hameed, MNA Tahira Aurangzeb, MPA Tehseen Fawad, Executive Punjab Council of the Arts Chaudhry Asif Pervaiz, Naheed Manzoor and RAC Resident Director Waqar Ahmed.

At the end of the Sham-i-Ghazal, RAC Resident Director Waqar Ahmed thanked the audience and said the council was promoting all forms of fine arts and such events were a part of this effort.

He said people should be provided positive entertainment.

Mr Ahmed said the Rawalpindi Arts Council had arranged music classes for students and also provided a platform to them to express their talent.

He said in the coming days, the council would arrange more events.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2015

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