It was a night of 90s nostalgia when Karunamoyee hosted Alka Yagnik for their Jagadhatri puja’s cultural programme.
Karunamayee (ED Block) Abashikbrindo Jagadhatri Puja Committee had organised the festivities and Alka took stage before a packed audience at about 8.45pm. Anchor Shakil Ansari welcomed her with a play of words that touched upon all seven films for which she had won awards — Dhadkan, Taal, Pardes, Khalnayak, Laagan, Tezaab and Hum Tum. “Aao Hum Tum milke ho jaye Alkaji ke gaano pe gum!” he announced. And with that appeared the singer humming the title track of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. And then came hit after hit — Gazab ka hai dil, Raah mein unse, Gali mein aa chand nikla, Tip tip barsa pani, Bazigaar oh baazigar, Ek do teen….
“Shobai ke amar namaskar! I am returning to this city after a while and the fun of performing in front of the crowd here is unique. You always make it memorable for me. Hope I can give you all a wonderful time,” said Alka.
She wove together a medley of her songs and presented Mere angne mein, Paalki mein hoke sawar, Dekha hai peheli bar, Chhamma chhamma, Taal se taal, Suraj hua madham and Kisi disco mein jaye and Bole chudiya.
Little Nishit Neogi was constantly rushing to the front to shake a leg and his parents were having a hard time keeping hold of him. “I could hardly listen to the last two songs as I was trying to pull him back. This shows how popular her songs are. Even a six-year-old is enjoying them,” said his mother Nandini Neogi, an FE Block resident.
Purnima Basak had secured a spot for herself on the right side of the stage behind the bamboo barricades. “I have been standing here since 6.30pm as I didn’t have a pass to get in. I am a huge Alka Yagnik fan and I wanted to see her from up close and this is the best spot. Had I been 30 minutes late, I would have lost this,” said the jubilant BK Block resident. Before singing Laal dupatta, the singer asked for those dressed in the colour mentioned in the song to come forward and dance. When no one came up anchor Shakil made an appearance himself, with a red dupatta around his head.
The singer performed till 10.30pm leaving the stage singing Kuch kuch hota hai. “This musical night is special for us and we allot around 55 per cent of the puja budget for this. We invite big names so everyone can enjoy their music. Previously we have hosted Kumar Sanu, Udit Narayan, Abhijeet and now Alka Yagnik,” said Animesh Naha Roy, puja committee president.
“Music of the 90s is always on my playlist and I can’t believe I’ve heard the big trio of that time live, that too at Karunamoyee. I wish someone invites Kavita Krishnamurthi to Salt Lake next,” smiled Suparna Basak, a Karunamoyee resident