Pak-American Arts Council Sacramento Stages Lively Musical Show
By AbdusSattarGhazali
Music and singing, not only move our soul but they are the greatest and the most effective agents of communication in the world. Music connects people. Music andsinging provides a true sense of lightheartedness, new friends and a better sense of humor. It can be said that singing is a way of escaping which lands us into another world. Singing evokes the temple of the soul. Words make us think while a song makes us feel a thought.
Perhaps inspired by the healing power of music, Pak-American Arts Council Greater Sacramento CA, recently organized a lively musical show. The colorful event was held at Kabab Corner Restaurant, West Sacramento, CA.
Malik Imtiaz Awan, a multi-lingual singer and a social activist, was the organizer and the MC of the program.
The show included live orchestra and presentation of songs in Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Saraeki and Pushto.
Malik Imtiaz Awan introduced the orchestra: JaveidSadiq was on tabla, VishwambharaDamie on dholak Girish Shah on harmonium, and Tanweer Khan was on Santoor. Singer Ranjeet Singh was on the sound system.
The singers entertained the audience with their melodious songs on live music as well as on karaoke. The singers included Poonam Malhotra, Switi Singh, Manpreet Kaur, Shive Mani, Shelpa, Gagan Joshi, Gogi Sindhu, Shokat Ali, AsimSahil, Salahuddin Shan, Ranjeet Singh, Aad Khan and Girish Shah.
Salahuddin Shan opened the show with a beautiful song. He was followed by a poetry recitation by Malik Imtiaz.
Rangeet Singh and Bogi Sandhu were the next to amuse the audience. Ranjeet presented a ghazal of Mirza Ghalib and also a Punjabi duet which amazed the audience. Being an avid singer, Ranjeet has special karaoke recordings where he is filling for the male singer while using the original track for female voice.
Manpreet Kaur and Shokat Ali mesmerized the audience with their duets which moved the audience to dance.
Duet by Gogi Sandhu and Shive Mani drew wide applause with their two duets. Gogi Sandhu also joined Shelpa to present a melodious duet.
Asad Khan, AsimSahil and Gagan Joshi thrilled the audience with their performances.
AsimSahil presented a very popular Pushto song, Bibi Shereen.
Popular multi-lingual singer Poonam Amalhotra perhaps stole the show with her singing with live music as well as on karaoke.
Sacramento resident popular singer Joyti Singh amazed the audience with her unique performance while singing in male and female voices. It was alluring and spellbinding.
Sweti Singh captivated the audience with her Hindi/Urdu and Punjabi songs on live music.
MC Malik Imtiaz Awan stunned the audience with his singing in Urdu, Punjabi and Saraiki languages. Poonam Malhotra joined Malik Imtiaz in a bewitching duet.
Aki Butt entertained the audience with his recital of poetry of legendry Punjabi poet Mian Mohammad Bakhsh, the composer of SaifulMaluk. He presented a copy of SaifulMaluk to Meer Shams Nazir.
Earlier, Naeem Syed and Khalid Saeed welcomed the audience on behalf of Pak-American Arts Council and expressed happiness that the PAAC was able to organize the musical show with the help of its friends and supporters. They were delighted to note that from the poetry recitation and karaoke singing, the PAAC has moved to live music, an excellent means of communication for bringing people together.
Khalid Saeed pointed out that the Pak American Arts Council was established in January 2011 as a forum for art and cultural events for the South Asian community living in the Greater Sacramento area. The PAAC planned to offer a wide variety of programs utilizing our community’s artistic talent as well as that of artists from across California and the US at large.
Khalid Saeed was happy to say that the PAAC was able to succeed in its mission with the support of local artists, performers, volunteers and in particular those that demonstrate their love for art, culture and creativity through their attendance.
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