Runa Laila

i had a bengali friend who would go berserk, shaking her head left to right, hair tumbling from here to there, big big grin on her face whenever runa laila song came on..
thanks anis, your pieces are always informative and fun to read

Ref:Anis Shaku`s article on Runa Laila

I did not like Runa Laila until I attended her live concerts at London`s Wembley Arena and Royal Albert Hall (where I recorded the whole show as well).I was also at a press conference given by Runa Laila,Pran,Aruna Irani,Rangeela and many others.

Runa Laila sang some beautiful songs in Bengali,Urdu,Punjabi etc but her last item of the show which thrilled the large audience was her `Damadam Mast Qalandar`.It was a real treat to hear Runa Laila in her melodious,rich voice.It made a change when Runa said Salam in typical Pakistani style as opposed to the Indians who said Namastey.

In that show,Shabbir Kumar paid tribute to Mohammad Rafi and said `whatever I have achieved is due to Rafi Saheb`s influence on me` and then he sang `Na Tujh Sa Koi Aur Zamane Mein Aya, Mohammad Rafi tu bohot yaad aya`.There was pin-drop silence as he sang in very much Rafi-like voice.

Rumour has it that Runa Laila was shunted out of Pakistan by Noorjehan as much as she was forced to leave Mumbai by those whose were scared of her.

RE: #1

and I have heard the same about LATA MANGESHKAR.


`Dil dharkay, mein tum say ye kaisay kahun kehti hai meri nazar shukriya, tum meri umango ki shab kay liye Aaye ho bun kay sahar shukriya` (The film `Anjuman`)

One of my all time favorites. Really melodious one.

She is Pakistan`s first pop singer.

A Bangladeshi friend tells a popular Bengali rumour where when she dies, her throat will be somehow be forever preserved.