Runa Laila

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.

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.

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.

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

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Oh all those songs are so nostalgic...
thank you for reminding us of them.

Had Runa Laila stayed behind, the music world of Pakistan would have been far more entertaining and full of beautiful songs.
Naheed Akhtar did fill up her place and did the kind of songs Runa Laila`s voice would have been more suitable for but still....Runa Laila was Runa Laila.
I have been greatly missing her all those years.

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Thanks Anis Shakur

I caught her show in Palo Alto in July.

Brought back a lot of memories. I remain a fan.

Check out

http://www.contactpakistan.com/Communitylibrary/general/article0533.htm

for the report.

I should have sent it to CHOWK too but since Dawn published it too I forgot.



Ras

O P Nayyar said in one of his interviews, ` The finest singer he used after Asha for his compositions was Runa Laila.

dear shaker thanks for taking me to my nostalgia but u forget to mention my favourite ghazal haa kay doosh pay rakhay howay caragh hain hum jo bugh gai to hawwa say sikaaitain kaisi anny how wonderful article lala

ashfaqahmad: Yes, Runa is very particular about such gestures, like `salam`. As for the rumors, a lot of them were in circulation those days. But Runa herself made it clear that one must move on. Cheers, Anis.

i-am-the-cheese: The pleasure is mine. All the best, Anis.

bmk: ..... her throat will be preserved... Well, we often hear and read such remarks about great people. As for `Dil dharkay...` credit goes to a lot of people including Runa, Bazmi Saheb and the rest. truly, Anis

Runa is, indeed, an incessant source of inspiration for the pop singers. Sincerely, Anis

Rakapo$h: Runa wanted to record a few songs for a Pakistani movie in the recent past. Unfortunately, her schedule was hectic and the film crew could not work out the dates. Wishing you all the best, Anis.

Lala: `Khayal O Khaab hue hain mohabbatain kaisi, lahu mein naach rahi hain ye wehchatain kaisi`. I agree with you regarding this ghazal. Trust me, I had to skip/trim a lot of stuff becaue the story would have been too long. Wish I had added this masterpiece. Thanks, Anis.