Alamgir: “The King
of the Evening”
By Ras H. Siddiqui
Alamgir plays the harmonica |
It
has been quite some time that this publication has reported
on the legendary Alamgir. It seems like only yesterday when
he and a skinny Iranian-Pakistani by the name of Mohammad
Ali Shehki ruled the pop charts in Pakistan and were almost
dethroned by the late Nazia and her brother Zohaib Hassan
from the United Kingdom. But time is relative to those who
live their immigrant lives in segments. For some of us, the
Pakistani segment (as opposed to the American) cannot be forgotten,
especially due to Pakistan’s entertainment industry
which once enriched our lives. When some of us left, Pakistan
had quite an active film and music industry. I guess that
we have to be thankful that the music side is still flourishing
there.
This chance encounter happened because of three reasons. While
talking with Raana Faiz of the Hamrahi Radio Program that
is well known in the San Francisco Bay Area, I came to know
of Alamgir’s forthcoming performance in the area. It
had been years since our last meeting on a boat ride to the
Golden Gate Bridge, where more than a book was launched (so
to speak) by our local Urdu poet Javaid Sayed. The second
reason was that the hosts of the party were quite accommodating
to our inclusion. And last but not least Mrs. Farah Siddiqui
is also a big fan of Alamgir, a legend of Pakistani pop music.
So without hesitation, Farah and I left for the Chandni Restaurant
in Newark on September 2. We try never to pass on the chance
of the combination of good food and great entertainment. And
on this evening we were not disappointed in either department.
We met the be speckled “young man” while he was
discussing his music with the sound engineer. I write “young
man’ here because like a number of other entertainers,
Alamgir looks just about the same as I saw him last about
a decade ago. We conversed a little while he gave me his current
contact information. We even exchanged a few pleasantries
in Bengali, but easily judging my limited vocabulary in that
language he switched to Urdu and English. His latest city
of residence is Atlanta, Georgia.
Alamgir started his performance by asking everyone to stand
up and observe a moment of silence to remember the victims
of Hurricane Katrina. His first two songs were dedicated to
the wedding couple. The third, a ghazal “Paas Aa Kar
Koi Dekhay to Pata Lagta Hai” was quite moving as was
the “Kabhi Tum Idahar say Guzar Kay to Dekho”.
A scintillating performance |
But
it was with his presentation of the late Ahmad Rushdi’s
“Ko Ko Korina” that a certain transformation took
place on stage. The glasses were gone and Alamgir was the
“King of the Evening.”
The first of two evening songs presented was the ballad “Shaam
Say Pehlay Aana” where he pulled out his favorite harmonica
and played it in between the lines. And with “Mein Nay
Tumhari Gagar Say Kabhi Paani Piya Tha” his control
over the attention of the audience was complete (Gori tum
woh din Yaad Karo).
Not to disappoint fans from across the border he sang his
version of Bollywood’s “Mein Hoon Na” and
for local Americans an English number “Where do I begin”
from the movie “Love Story.” But our favorite
and the next song that launched his career, “Dekha Na
Tha” electrified us. The stage at this time became a
gym for Alamgir and his moves as the Punjabi “Mainu
Lai Chal” had even our community seniors swaying.
One of his most famous songs from the Platinum Jubilee movie
“Aina” called “Mujhay Dil Say Na Bhulana”
brought back many memories as did his Spanish number “Quanta
La Mera” (Plus Albela Rahi), his first song on TV. “Nasha
Yeh Piyar ka Nasha” with its heavy disco beat was very
energetic but the song that some of us traveled many miles
to hear, “Yeh Shaam Aut Tera Naaam,” although
much faster than the original version, made our day.
Alamgir with the author and his
wife |
We
were there for four more songs and Alamgir was still going
strong with a tribute to ghazal legend Mehdi Hasan as we were
leaving. I stop this writing at “Yeh Shaam” because
it made Alamgir an inseparable part of Pakistani pop and its
legends.
In closing Alamgir Haq deserves kudos for enriching our musical
lives. Shukriah, gracias and thanks. It was just great to
take a trip down memory lane with you at this program and
to reflect back on a time when guided by our youth and once
lofty ideals we left our homes for America. And now after
all these years, we think back and can only smile as Alamgir,
once the King of our Pakistani evenings ( Shaams) makes both
Bagladeshis and Pakistanis think about home here in North
America.
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