Adil Najam
For many of us the 1980s talk-show Silver Jubilee was the very best of all of Anwar Maqsood’s television shows. And that is saying something given the many brilliants endeavors he was been part of. That the other maestro of Pakistan Television(PTV), Shoaib Mansoor, was the producer of this memorable series is another reason why.
The PTV show is memorable, most of all, for its selection of guests; especially for bringing back people from a bygone era of greats (Naeem Bokhari’s Yaadesh Bakhair was memorable for the same reason).
Another reason why it is memorable is because it launched the Benjamin Sisters phenomenon. This earnest trio was essentially brought in to simply re-render the great songs related to whoever was the guest that week. Over time, it was not just the songs but the Benjamin Sisters themselves who became the sensation.
There are some lessons to be learnt – not just about the performing arts but about life – from their success.
- First, and most important, they sang really really well; moreover, by just looking at them singing you can see that they worked really hard and were very serious about singing well. The lesson here is that performance matters, talent matters, and hard work matters.
- Second, in Anwar Maqsood and Shoaib Mansoor, they had two nurturing mentors. In a society where we are generally so insecure and unsure of ourselves that we are threatened by everyone else’s talents, here is a an example which shows that mentoring the talent of others not only gives them a break, it also makes you look better.
- Third, the selection of the songs they sang was truly remarkable. I do not know for sure but my sense is that Anwar Maqsood might have had the largest role in this selection. It is too simple to say that they pulled at our nostalgia chords. For some, they did. But for many, especially in my generation, they introduced the great music of an earlier generation. And, lo and behold, it plucked at our hearts as much as it had at our parents. The lesson here is that things that are crafted properly (in this case, songs) are timeless. This lesson – I would like to think – is applicable well beyond songs.
Since then, the sisters (at least two of them) disappeared. One heard they got married. I do not know where they are and Google did not give me any clues. If you know, do share. But wherever they are, I hope they are well and prosperous and happy.
All of this was triggered by a stash of recently-loaded Benjamin Sister songs I found on YouTube.
Included in this post are two particularly catchy melodies. Note also the other guests sitting there. A young Javed Miandad and an ageless Shabnam in the first, and an older Waheed Murad in the other.
Thanks for a wonderful treat !
[quote comment=”17411″]hi…one question…does anyone know if there is any significance behind ‘Benjamin’ which is a common Western first name.[/quote]
I believe it was their last name. They belonged to the Pakistani Christian community from Karachi.
In fact, the Pakistani Christian community has made many contributions to Pakistan music. A. Nayyar, I beleiev, is Arthur Nayyar.
if my memory serves me right, these were the days when pakistan was under martial law and this is in itself a great tribute to shoaib mansoor and anwar maqsood that they were able to pull off thinly vieled political humor during Silver Jubilee. The late Razzak Raju comes to mind who had an act with Qazi Wajid which I waited for the entire week
What we have today as far a popular music is concerned a process that started off late in Junejo’s term and full-fledged unleashing of a more open television after Elections 1988. Pakistan media has transformed; several artists getting airtime on cable channels. One could argue about the quality but a distinctly pakistani pop culture has emerged.
I am sure if Benamin sisters were to make a comeback, they would find their fan following supporting such a move; but as per my information, the trio broke up when the three ladies got married and one of them emigrated to North America.
Alamgir got a rousing welcome when he visited pakistan a few months ago. The entire pop movement would emphatically welcome Alamgir back; due to corporate sponsorship pop music in Pakistan is a huge money earner. The pop bands/solo acts in Pakistan can learn from them a lot
Nostalgia about Benjamin sisters is appropriate in that this was the start of old film music getting a new lease of life; in addition to them, I remember memorable performances by Shehki, Wahab Khan, Tehseen Javed, Sajid Ali and several others whose careers were launched with Silver Jubilee
Adil, you surely brought back good old memories & the good times….I was just thinking, in the time of Zia-ul-Haq the great, while we were growing up, this was the maximum entertainment that we had…
hi…one question…does anyone know if there is any significance behind ‘Benjamin’ which is a common Western first name.