I heard this question the first time in 1985 on Radio Pakistan and since then I have remembered the answer to it. How many times do you hear the word ‘Laila’ in the song ‘Laila Laila Laila’?
The song is from a Pakistani movie called ‘ishq-e-Laila’ (1957) and in 1984 it was given a second life by Benjamin Sisters’ rendition in an Anwar Maqsood stage show called Silver Jubilee. Its audio cassette came out soon and became very popular.
One day on Radio Pakistan this same question was asked for a very big prize (a Rahbar Water Cooler – jis mein pani thanda 24 ghante rehta tha). I’ve known people listening to and rewinding their audio cassettes whole day long but couldn’t get to the right answer.
Are you up for the challenge? to phir ho jaaye!
Several people have got the correct answer. It is 58.
Unless I have a counting problem, 58.
Very difficult question.
Do not know the answer. But what a wonderful song.