There are 4 songs in this post.
While surfing on YouTube, I was happpily surprised to find followng songs by Runa Laila. Many of you may know that she is the world famous singer from Bangladesh. She has a huge contribution of singing Urdu songs in Pakistani movies. She has also sung Punjabi, Pashto and Bengali songs in Pakistan. Infact, she has sung in 17 different languages of the world.
In Pakistan, Runa Laila has won 2 Nigar Awards, 2 Graduate Awards, 1 Critics Award and a National Council of Music Gold Medal. Besides Pakistan she as won numerous awards in her native Bangladesh as well as in India. There is a large collection of her songs available on YouTube but I picked the 4 that I like the most. I hope you like them too.
(1 of 4)
Song Title: ranjish hi sahih, dil hi dukhanay ke liyay aa
Movie: Mohabbat, 1972
Music: Nisar Bazmi
(2 of 4)
Song Title: humeiN kho kar
Movie: Ehsaas, 1974
(3 of 4)
Song Title: kaaTay ne kaTTeN rattiyaaN, sayyaaN intzaar meiN
Movie: Umrao Jan Ada, 1974,
Music: Nisar Bazmi,
(4 of 4)
Song Title: un ki nazroN se mohabbat ka jo peghaam mila
Music: Nashaad
Runa Leila and Pakistani Connection
Between 1947 – 1971 every Bengali was Pakistani and the songs which mentioned above are sung for Pakistani films :D. These songs do brought back some memories.
MQ. ‘Sohni Dharti’ was originally sang by Shehnaz Begum who is now a national of Bangladesh.
What beautiful songs. Thanks for a great post, Owais.
Any idea who wrote these songs? So interesting that these are Pakstani film songs and even though I have not seen too many Pakistani films, I could recognize every single one of them. Speaks volumes for how good songs travel far beyond their stated audiences.
Yes, one of Runa’s sisters (possibly Dina Laila) was married to one of the Makhdoom brothers.
Another famous Benagli singer, as already mentioned by Naveed, was Firdosi Begum. Her songs sung in Bengali language were superb. I wonder if anyone could post them here.
I remember watching Shehnaz Begum (was she also a Bengali?) once on TV sing “Sohni Dharti…” Bhutto was also in the audience. It was soon after 1971. Bhutto could not resist climbing on to the stage and joining Shehnaz and clapping with the beat of the song. It was unprecedented then for any head of state or government doing such thing publicly. The whole audience including some somber looking ministers joined in. It seems now it was a different age altogether.
Could anyone imagine Zia, Isshaq or Tararr clapping and singing publicly — or even privately?
This post is an acknowledgement and tribute to Runa Laila songs. No political motives behind this post :) Enjoy the music. At no point have we claimed her music for Pakistan only.