WESTBROUGH, MA—Art and music broke all barriers this Sunday when people of Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi origin shared food and celebrated and enjoyed the Ghalib & Gulzar Literary Show produced and organized by Pakistan Association of Greater Boston, known as PAGB.
Held at the cozy Yusra Hall in Westborough, MA, the sold-out two-and-a-half-hour program was attended by 150 people. Local artists and performers were of both Pakistani and Indian origin.
“The presence of prominent and respected community members from Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani origin under one roof was a great testament to the fact that music, art, and culture are beyond boundaries and possess the power to unite people,” said PAGB Vice President Ammara Nawaz Khan, who curated the program and served as the master of ceremony of the evening. “It was a success on many levels for (PAGB President) Shehla Gull, me and our PAGB team.”
The musical extravaganza was based on poetry of legendry Mirza Ghalib (1797-1869) and the current versatile Bollywood lyricist and poet Gulzar.
“Ghalib brought Urdu out to the street and his poetry was more like a conversation than a statement,” said Ms. Khan, who also sang during the program. “Gulzar ji added his magic to Urdu by romanticizing everyday words.”
Ms. Khan mentioned Ghalib’s way of complaining to his beloved as how can any meaningful conversation commence if on every conversation of mine, you say “who are you.”
“Her aik baat per kehte ho tum k tu kiya hay,
Tum hee kaho K yeh andaaz e guftagu kiya hay…”
On Gulzar, Ms. Khan exclaimed: Who would have thought that left-behind “samaan” can be so evocative.
“Mera kuch samaan tumhare pass para hay…” and “Saans lena bhee kaisi aadat hay…”
“Gulzar made us notice everyday sights that we usually ignore,” said Ms. Khan, adding that there is one line that both legends shared: “Dil Dhoonta hay phir wohi fursat k raat din.”
“(This is) a line from Ghalib that Gulzar ji borrowed and created a song that is evergreen and loved by billions,” said Ms. Khan.
The singers of the evening were: Ammara Khan, Karthik Krishna, Fauzia Saeed, Reshma Nair, and Pankaj Shah. Pooja Tiwari performed dances on some songs to add a flavor to the show.
After a warm welcome by PAGB President Ms. Gull, the audience were transported back in time with actual recorded audios of Gulzar in his own voice and rich Urdu poetry of both Gulzar and Ghalib sung by local singers:
- Dil E Nadan Tujhe Hua Kya Hai by Ammara, Karthik and Fauzia, accompanied by a dance performance by Pooja.
- Yeh Kaisi Umr Mein Aakar Mili Ho Tum-recital by Gulzar is followed by “Khali Hath Sham Aai Hai” by Reshma.
- Is Mod Se Jate Hain by Karthik and Fauzia.
- Saans Lena recital audio by Gulzar, followed by “Ae Zindagi Gale Laga Le” by Pankaj.
- Dharak dharak by Karthik and Reshma (dance by Pooja)
- Seeli Hawa by Reshma.
- Dil Dhoondta hai phir wohi by Pankaj, Karthik and Reshma.
- Tujhse naraaz nahee zindagi by Fauzia.
- Aap ki ankho meim kuchh by Ammara, Pankaj and dance by Pooja.
- Gulzar describes Ghalib audio: Ek bauchhar tha woh...
- Dil hee tou hay na sango khisht by Ammara.
- Rone se qur ishq by Karthik.
- Aah ko chaheye by Pankaj.
- Yeh na thi hamari kismat by Reshma.
- Yeh tera baya Ghalib audio by Gulzar.
- Bazeecha atfaal hay duniya mere by Ammara and Pankaj.
- Qatra quatra milti hay, quatra quatra jeene do, zindagi hai bahne do…by Ammara, Karthik, Pankaj, Fauzia and Reshma.
