Nazia Alam performs at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 25: Singer Nazia Alam regaled listeners at Rabindra Mandap with her renditions on Wednesday evening.

Performing at a musical night, An evening with Nazia, organised by Soor Tarang on the occasion of its 18th anniversary, the young singer charmed the audience with some of the popular numbers of Lata Mageshkar, Asha Bhonsle and compositions of her father Sikander Alam.

Nazia began the evening with one of Lata’s number Piya tose naina laage re. The singer received her basic training in music from her father, music director Sikander Alam and mother Naima Alam.

Her performance was a good mix of romantic and peppy evergreen songs of yesteryear’s Bollywood music. The list of songs included, Raat akeli hain, Je nayana rang hara, Mere dholna sun, O hasina zulfoon wali and many more.

After a few solos, popular singer from Odia film industry, Bibhu Kishore, joined Nazia for a duet. As the singers hummed to the tune of popular Shammi Kapoor number Aaj kal tere mere pyaar, the audience burst into loud applauses and whistles.

Background dancers from choreographer Dileep Swain’s troupe Rangeela Dance Group added spunk to the melodious night. Upcoming singers Tikan and Sonia also impressed the listeners with Kishore Kumar and Lata’s Gum hain kisi ke pyar mein.

“Music is keeping me very busy these days. I have a number of shows within India and abroad. Apart from these shows, I am working on a music album called Geet Govinda which is expected to release next year,” said Nazia.

“Our association with Nazia Alam dates long back. We even felicitated her with our Soor Tarang Samman a few years ago. Our main intention is to bring forth bright talents of Odisha to the forefront and since Nazia is a gifted singer, we feel privileged to organise a night on her honour,” said secretary of Soor Tarang Piyush Mohanty.

Among many others, present on the occasion were actor Bijay Mohanty, singer and music director Prafulla Kar and Mahaprasad Kar and speaker Sarat Kar. Soor Tarang also felicitated singer Susmita Das and differently-abled dancer Mithilesh Panda and many others for contribution in their respective fields.