![\"\"](\"http:\/\/siliconeer.com\/current\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/PAGE-RAS-SUNIL-02.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>When this writer walked in fashionably late Sunil Khanna was already warmed up. A beautiful rendition of the late Kishore Kumar\u2019s \u201cMere Mehboob Qayamat Hogi, Aaj Rusva Teri Galiyon Mein Mohabbat Hogi\u201d really touched on our collective nostalgia. The song has been around for over half a century but it still resonates, and Khanna did justice to it here. The same cannot be said of \u201cTere Mast Mast Do Nain\u201d which is a much more recent hit by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan from the movie Dabangg<\/i>, but one can guess that the younger members of the audience could relate to it more. And the follow up \u201cTumhare Sheher Ka Mausam\u201d sung by many famous singers was reproduced well by him, just before prominent Sacramento South Asian Joe Lal\u2019s mother-in-law\u2019s birthday was announced and a fine greeting sung in her honor.<\/p>\n
Chanda Khanna joined Sunil on stage soon after with a fine \u201cLag Ja Gale Ki Phir Ye Haseen Raat Ho Na Ho, Shayad Phir Is Janam Mein Mulakaat Ho Na Ho\u201d a famous old melody originally sung by Lata Mangeshkar. It should be noted here that Lata ji is not one whose voice can be easily duplicated and Chanda\u2019s delivery certainly possesses that rare \u201csureely\u201d quality which can successfully pull off a worthy duplication. And the next number another oldie by Lata ji \u201cAap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha Pyar Ke Qabil Mujhe\u201d from the film Anpadh<\/i> (1962) was proof of that. Fine job Chanda ji!<\/p>\n But we returned to Sunil and \u201cAhista Ahista,\u201d a very famous ghazal originally sung by the late Jagjit Singh, plus the follow up \u201cKaun Kehta Hai Mohabbat Ki Zabaan Hoti Hai\u201d and \u201cWaqt To Lagta Hai.\u201d\u00a0 A song from the golden era and another high point of the evening which thrilled us all was \u201cChalte Chalte\u201d from the film Pakeezah<\/i>, sung to almost perfection by Chanda ji, along with \u201cInhi Logon Ne Le Liya Dupatta Mera Dupatta Mera\u201d from the same classic. A duet, \u201cChura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko\u201d from the treasure chest of R.D. Burman was also well received.<\/p>\n But this event was in Sacramento and many in the audience were of Punjabi extraction so it came as no surprise that the most energetic response was witnessed during \u201cKurti\u00a0Mal Mal Di\u201d possibly the late Jagjit Singh\u2019s most famous song in that language. But the evening ended in the Hindi-Urdu realm with the famous paper boat of childhood, which left some here nostalgically misty eyed, \u201cYe Daulat Bhi Lelo Ye Shohrat Bhi Lelo, Bhale Cheenlo Mujhse Meri Jawani , Magar Mujhko Lauta Do Bachpan Ka Sawan, Woh Kagaz ki Kashti Woh Baarish Ka Paani.\u201d Now that is what we call a fine close for a Desi <\/i>musical evening!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sunil and Chanda Khanna performing in Sacramento, Feb. 24. (Ras H. Siddiqui) The quest to bring quality Desi entertainment to the Sacramento area continued at the Eden Gardens Event Center in Elk Grove, Calif., brought together by a group of diehard South Asians, Feb. 24. The event billed \u201cValentine\u2019s Day Musical Magic\u201d started off with…<\/p>\n<\/a>