A galaxy of distinguished dignatories of India were present in a stage singing show of Sahir Ludhianvis film lyrics on 9 April in Delhi including Dr Sandeep Marwah, founder Noida Film City; BR Saini, Director of oldest Music Teaching Institution Saraswati Music College originally established in Lahore in 1924 where Mohd Rafi himself got training during his stay in Lahore; Seema Vohra Biswas, daughter of legendary music director Anil Biswas who runs Anil Biswas Foundation and Sangeet Smriti in Delhi and Mumbai; Prithvi Haldea, founder Chairman of Ibaadat Foundation which has organised 39 stage shows of many lyricists like Sahir Ludhianvi, Majrooh Sultanpuri in different towns of India and one in Dubai; Sanjay Malik, organiser of high level Celebrity Shows and promoter of young singers through annual singing competitions; 95 years old stage compere KC Khurana who has compered many live shows of Mohd Rafi, Manna Dey, Mukesh, Talat Mehmood, Mohinder Kapoor, CH Atma.
The show was organised jointly by Jaswant Singh Malhotra, Founder President Philharmonic Singer Federation and Amarjit Singh Kohli, Founder Chairman of Sakha Cultural Society.
Seven year old Ehsas Quaiser who sang film Baazi ( 1951) song Tadbeer se bigdi hui taqdeer bana le; 19 years old Ishita Gujral, who sang Qwaali nigahen milane ko ji chahta hai ( dil Hi To Hai, 1963 ) 14 year old Jenya Vishwakarma who sang Phaili Hui hain sapno ki baahen ( House No 44, 1955); 20 year old Aaroh Shankar who sang the difficult classical song Laaga Chunri mein daag ( Dil hi to Hai, 1963); 14 year old Sukanya Rawat and 25 year old Chander Prakash who sang duet Tum mujhe Bhool Bhi Jao to ye haq hai tumko (film Didi, 1959) stole the show.
After this song Amarjit Singh Kohli, Chairman Sakha came on stage with his mobile phone and rang up veteran playback Mumbai based Sudha Malhotra who had originally sung this song. The mike was put on loud speaker and entire audience was listening. Sudha Malhotra said that she was not only the singer but also the music director of this song and had composed this duet with playback singer Mukesh in one night. She said the original music director was N Dutta who had already composed 5 songs of this film but before he could compose this song he fell very ill and had to be hospitalised. N Dutta asked her to compose music for this song and in 24 hours she composed it and herself sang it with Mukesh. She said that although she has sung1000 film songs but this is only song for which she has composed music.
She also said that she has heard the recording of this song by Sukanya Rawat and Chander Parkash and found they are both are excellent singers.
Mr Amajit Singh Kohli is now 80 years old and has been promoting young talent for the last 56 years. Many singers first discovered by him through singing competitions are playback singers today including Sonu Nigam. Sonu Nigam had won the competition 34 years ago on 31st July, 1988 when he was a school boy of 9th class and was exactly 15 years one day old on the day of competition. In fact, his father Agam Kumar Nigam had started singing in Amarjit Singh Kohlis shows since 1974 when Sonu Nigam was only one year old. Agam Kumar Nigam who was the best singer of Northern India, had won the same competition two year ago on 31st July, 1986. Mr Jaswant Singh Malhotra who had retired as the Chief General Manager of Delhi Transport Corporation had founded Philharmonic Singers Foundation a few years ago and has been promoting singing talent for about 3 years. He has devoted his life to social causes in a big way.
The Show which was compered by veteran stage, radio compere Naresh Khanna was a great success in which 12 young singers sang. The names of remaining singers are Abhishek Kishore(21), Amritanshu Sharma(20), Nitin Kapoor(26), Shweta Kishor(24), Zarnigar Quaiser (12), Zartaj Quaiser (15). Baijnath Gosa was the music arranger and videographer Sushant Ghai
