By Saeed Haider

Saudi Gzette

ALKHOBAR — It was a unique musical journey that carried Al-Khobar audience from one generation of Bollywood music to generation next; from one genre to another while captivating the audience of the Eastern Province.

It was an evening with a purpose. All the proceeds of the show and revenue yield would go for the education of poor children in India. Ehsan A. Hassan, chief organizer of the event and a noted mystic singer from the region, told Saudi Gazette that the 3S (Sur, Sargam, Saughat) Group was not just a musical group but also a social organization which takes up issue related to Indians residing in the Kingdom as well as in India.

“We have now started focusing on education for all and 3S has planned several events during the next 12 months to generate awareness in the Indian community and help children in India so that they could receive higher education,” he said.

Various Eastern Province based social groups are supporting the endeavors of 3S Group. Leading academicians, technocrats and business executives have also reaffirmed their support. One of the most prominent social activists in the Eastern Province Zaheer Baig, who is associated with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) ), while addressing the gathering, lauded the efforts of 3S Group and said that he will exert his influence with other groups to join the mission initiated by the 3S Group.

The musical evening started with a welcome speech by V.P. Safeer, who highlighted the mission of 3S Group and thanked the audience for their support. 3S President Muzaffar Khan gave a presentation on the mission of 3S. He said that the group wanted to showcase Indian culture and ethos and the best vehicle to carry forward this mission is music. Khan said that the group was committed to its social responsibility and from time to time will take up various social issues.

Syed Asif, manager at Arab National Bank’s Telemoney, anchored the evening with a touch of humor and pun. He first called Yousuf Khan, who took the audience back to 1967 by rendering hit songs of Dilip Kumar’s Ram Aur Shyam’, “Aaj ki raat mere dil ki salami le..” sung by Late Mohd. Rafi and music by legendary Naushad.

Abdul Malik Ansar captivated the audience with another Mohd. Rafi hit “Aane se uske aye Bahar ...” of Jeetendra acted Jeeney ki Rah. Shoaib Khan took the evening to another level with yet another Rafi number “Rukh se zara Naqab....” from film “Mere Huzoor”. A romantic number that has the audience spell-bound with its romantic lyrics and captivating music.

Arun Nair took a big leap of three decades and bought the audience into 21st century with Bhool Bhulaiya hit “Mere Dholna” by M.G. Sreekumar. It was one of the most difficult song because of its classical base but was rendered very skillfully by Nair.

Aleem Khan mesmerized the audience with another romantic hit “Kuch na Kaho” from film “1942 A Love Story” sung by Kumar Sanu.

The star of 3S musical band Lawrence Rodrigues broke the auditorium in a rapturous applause with his number “O mere dil ke chain. Chain aye mere dil ko dua kijye” of Rajesh Khanna starrer Sanam with music from legendary R.D. Burman and sung by yet another legend of Bollywood’s golden era Kishore Kumar.

But one singer who emerged as heart throb of the audience was Ehsan A. Hassan, who with his Tambourine took the audience by storm with his Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s Number “Chap Tilak”. On the insistence of audience he rendered another famous mystical number “Duma dum mast Qalandar” and brought the audience to its feet.

On public insistence some of the singers were called for encores and they enthralled the crowd with popular numbers of Bollywood movies.

VP Safeer proposed vote of thanks. The event was sponsored by Saudi Gazette, Telemoney and Jubail diaries.