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Still on top
The premier Bengali or Bangla monthly magazine on the West Coast of the United States celebrated the second anniversary of its publication by holding a formidable night of entertainment, which included the now legendary Runa Laila. Uniquely named Porshi, the magazine organized this event for its growing nationwide Bangladeshi or Bangla speaking readership, but the rest of the South Asian community was also welcomed, recently, at the Spangenberg Theatre of Gunn High School in the San Francisco Bay Area city of Palo Alto (known the world over for its elite Stanford University).
Walking into the theatre for the show was like visiting the past for this writer whose affection and appreciation of the Bengali language is the same as it was before 1971, but whose abilities of understanding it have diminished considerably over the years. But nonetheless it felt like visiting old friends, as the programme got off to a start with a short speech by Mr. Sabir Majumder, the magazine’s Managing Editor.
The competent emcees who alternated between Bengali and English then took over and started the musical segment by introducing the opening act Jo Jo. This young talent from Kolkata moved the audience in Bengali and Urdu plus Hindi songs. Her routine songs and dazzling Sharara finale were quite good and well received by the audience. Jolly Mukerjee, a showbiz veteran of sorts from Mumbai, was also applauded but performing after Jo Jo was indeed a tough act to follow in the energy department. Jolly appeared to be a bit serious in comparison.
Throughout the first half of the show Runa’s stage finesse, coupled with a rare showing of that old naughtiness, was present — points that once enabled her to compete and hold her own in an era when Noor Jehan reigned as queen
The reason why most of the audience came from miles to attend this show was then announced, loud and clear. Whether you are from Bangladesh or Pakistan (or even India), which one of us is not familiar with Runa Laila? Who does not remember that precocious young girl in bell bottoms and the jacket with “Oh No” printed on the back lighting up the Zia Mohyeddin Show in the 1970s? Runa, with that melodious voice who brought Bengali and Urdu pop to Pakistan, could sing a difficult ghazal in almost the same breath, to the delight of the classically oriented. Runa has now recorded well over 5,000 songs in three South Asian countries, and in more languages than one can remember.
In a dark grey sari walking through the hall and audience appeared this graceful middle aged lady to whom the years have been very kind. Once on stage she greeted everyone with the same radiant smile that has been her signature on stage and the TV screen for years. She started off with a Bengali number and was next with Kab Ayain Ge Sanwaria in Urdu. But it was with Dayyara Dayyara Kaanta Chubha that the memories of an era gone by were revisited for many a Pakistani fan.
Throughout the first half of the show Runa’s stage finesse, coupled with a rare showing of that old naughtiness appeared, talents that once enabled her to compete and hold her own in an era when Noor Jehan reigned as queen of Pakistani female vocalists. Young Runa once gave every female singer in Pakistan some serious competition. Today she is a veteran and as entertaining as ever. Bengali songs dominated the evening but her Urdu-Hindi-Punjabi numbers were appreciated too. Her songs from her Super Runa album are always well received, as was the one just before intermission. Allah Meg Day Pani Day broke many memory barriers for most.
One has to be thankful to the magazine’s hospitality and to Runa Laila for still being super. My regrets for having to leave at intermission (the three hour drive back to Sacramento always cuts into this reporter’s entertainment). But that drive back is also a time to reflect and think on one’s life. Runa spoke briefly about the need for international harmony on stage. We all wish that sometimes the world could somehow oblige us better in that department. I removed some of my old cobwebs from those little used memory cells relating to 1971 Pakistan that night. That crimson time may be over for most, but artists like Runa continue to remind some of us of who we once were and of the treasures of old friendships, culture and the arts.
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