Singing voices from across the border

“Char dina da pyaar o rabba, badi lambi judai………”

When Pakistani folk singer Reshma lent her beautiful voice to this song for the Bollywood flick “Hero “ in the eighties, this came as a whiff of fresh air as the singer’s voice apart from timbre had a folksy charm to it. The song became and is still popular after almost three decades down the line. Reshma’s became a household name for every music lover. Thanks to YouTube, , the other day , I chanced upon a duet by her and Pervez Mehdi-

“ Goriye mein jana pardes ………….” .

Both the singers come out at their best in this composition and literally it transported me to another world. Again that earthy/ folksy charm comes to the fore.

Another singer from across the border perhaps lesser known in India – though originally from Assam , her family migrated to Pakistan much after the partition - is Nayyara Noor- simple and urbane in her demeanour . I found her rendition of a ghazal by Behzaad Lakhnawi ;

“Ai jazba-e-dil gar main chahoon har cheez muqabil aa jaye………..”

simply captivating .

She has also sung for Pakistani films . A song that I particularly like is “: Roothey ho tum , tumko kaise manaoon piya…bolo na …..”

On stage she has also sung old bollywood songs like " Panchhi baanwra......... " etc.

Interested music lovers should be able to find links via YouTube