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Penaz Masani is an Indian ghazal singer who started singing in 1981 and has made over 20 albums. She was honoured with the Padma Shree award on 26 January 2009.

Penaz has won a number of awards, including the title of ‘Shehzadi Tarunnam’, by the state government of Uttar Pradesh 1996 and the 11th ‘Kalakar Award’ for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Music’, in 2002. She has worked as a playback singer for Bollywood, in more than 50 Hindi movies and sung in over ten languages. Under the aegis of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, she has performed in countries as far reaching as Germany, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Vietnam. Courtesy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penaz_Masani

This conversation goes back to July of 2010. We spoke about Penaz’s journey, her music and much more – and yes, she did sing as well. Do listen – in for sure, to the re – broadcast, today, 15th  March, on our Hindi Radio Show, From our Archives, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 3:00 PM – EST

Alisha Chinai is a very popular Indian pop singer known for her Indi-pop albums as well as playback singing in Hindi cinema.

This conversation, recorded many years back, revolves around her journey – going back to the years when she started singing, to the many albums she recorded, to doing play back singing for many Bollywood films. Alisha also talks about her childhood days – and yes, a beautiful message for you. And not to miss are the many songs that she rendered that we would be airing, today, on the show, From our Archives.

Do listen – in to it, for sure, today, 10th March, on our Hindi Radio Show, From our Archives, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 3:00 PM – EST

Mahima Chaudhry is a Indian actress and model who worked in Hindi films. During the 1990s, Chaudhry did a few modelling assignments and appeared in several television commercials before venturing into films.

Mahim made her acting debut in the 1997 film Pardes, for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. She established a career with several roles in films including Daag (1999), Dhadkan (2000), Kurukshetra (2000), Dil Hai Tumhaara (2002), and received critical recognition for her performances in Dil Kya Kare (1999) and Lajja (2001). Courtesy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahima_Chaudhry

This conversation was recorded many years back – and you would love every word of it – Mahima talks about how she got working with Subhash Ghai ji, who gave her a break in the film Pardes, about her many other movies and roles, about her great equation with Preity Zinta, about her daughter and much much more – in case you missed this earlier, tune – in for sure, on 8th March, on our Hindi Radio Show, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 3:00 PM – EST

Does the picture look familiar – Well, this is Fuzail Rafi, grandson of the legendary Indian film playback singer, Mohammed Rafi Sahaab and he certainly is doing his family proud. He joined us from Atlanta, for this lovely conversation about his latest venture which has all us Rafi Sahaab fans excited!

We travel back in time and remember Rafi Sahaab – of all the fond memories that Fuzail has about his grandfather. We have all grown listening to Rafi Sahaab’s beautiful songs, his voice so touching our souls, and today, you get to know the person – so many things that Fuzail has to tell us.

So, while you wait to listen in to the conversation, do visit https://mohammedrafiinstitute.com/home/. Fuzail talks in detail about this on our show too.

To know more about what all Fuzail is doing , do tune in for sure, today, 21st of July, on our Hindi Radio Show, From our Archives, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 3:00 PM – EST

Pankaj Udhas is a very popular Indian ghazal and playback singer. After his success as a ghazal singer, he was invited to appear and sing for a film by Mahesh Bhatt, Naam. He did playback singing for many Hindi films after that. In 2006, Pankaj Udhas was awarded Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award. Courtesy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pankaj_Udhas

On the show, Pankaj Udhas talks about his growing-up days, about his father, his brothers – how music just became his first love, home, and much much more. This conversation was recorded many many years back but is as fresh as today – So know your favorite singer, and hear him talk about so many memories – as he does so, he also sings along – and we also play many many of his super hit nos.

The date and time to save is – our show, From our Archives, today, 11th February, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and MeraSangeet USA at 3:00 PM – EST

It was 25 June 1983, when India lifted its first World Cup title. The 1983 Cricket World Cup (officially the Prudential Cup ’83) was the 3rd edition of the Cricket World Cup tournament. It was held from 9 to 25 June 1983 in England and Wales and was won by India.

Kapil Dev captained the Indian cricket team that won the 1983 Cricket World Cup, and in the process became the first Indian captain to win the Cricket World Cup, and is still the youngest captain (at the age of 24) to win the World Cup for any team. He was a fast-medium bowler and a hard-hitting middle-order batsman, and was named by Wisden as the Indian Cricketer of the Century in 2002.

Kapil Dev retired in 1994, at the time holding the world record for the highest number of wickets taken in Test cricket, a record subsequently broken by Courtney Walsh in 2000. At the time, he was also India’s highest wicket-taker in both major forms of cricket, Tests and ODIs. He is the first player to take 200 ODI wickets. He is the only player in the history of cricket to have taken more than 400 wickets (434 wickets) and scored more than 5,000 runs in Tests, making him one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of cricket. On 11 March 2010, he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. In 1982 awarded with the Padma Shri and in 1991 the Padma Bhushan. Courtesy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapil_Dev

So, lets relive the moments from 1983 with the person who made history – with Kapil Dev. The recording is from a long time back – but it will surely inspire you today as well – listen – in for sure, today, 8th February, on our Hindi Radio Show, From our Archives, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 3:00 PM – EST

Save the dates for the South Asian Showdown on March 1st, 2025 in Boston. This will be the 16th year for the event!

Bollywood/Fusion is a highly energetic dance from India that combines many different styles of dance coordinated to a theme. You will see Bollywood, Hip Hop, Bhangra, Classical, Contemporary, Tollywood and more! You don’t want to miss out on the chance of hearing the feet pulsing music, and the phenomenal atmosphere at the event. You will see some of the best dance performances of the year with teams that come to Boston from the US and Canada!

So, if you are in and around Boston or if you have any family or friends in Boston OR if you plan to take the trip to Boston, you can be a part of the event.

For the Event details, visit: http://www.southasianshowdown.com

Also, you stand a chance to win tickets to the event – stay tuned for this — we will be letting you know, very soon – So stay tuned on our shows!!

Maryam Abolfazli is a storyteller, coach and strategy consultant for social impact leaders and organizations. For twenty years, she built her career as an international economic and political development professional, working in Eurasia and the Middle East, to assist in improving the political and economic realities of marginalized communities there.

Maryam leveraged technology and designed an online training methodology that is still being used today in Afghanistan, Iran and more. All the while, she wrote and documented her travels and observations in publications such as the Huffington Post, Guernica, and The Guardian.

Today, Maryam is a Subject Matter Expert and Sr Trainer on a technology product utilized to measure the impact of programs around the world. Her writing today focuses on the topic of equitable development in her hometown of Nashville, TN. She often sneaks away to tell stories on stage for the MOTH Story Slam in Nashville, TN and Story District in Washington DC.

We talk to Maryam about the time she spent in Afghanistan – this was when the country had just started to build itself – Catch the conversation, recorded some years back, today, 4th February, on our Hindi Radio Show, From our Archives, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 3:00 PM – EST

Vikas Bhalla is a distinguished Indian actor, singer, and producer, recognized for his contributions to both film and television. He has undergone formal training in Hindustani classical music at Allahabad University under the tutelage of Pandit Jialal Vasant. Bhalla gained prominence as a lead actor in films during the late 1990s and has also featured in a variety of music and video albums.

In 1995, Vikas Bhalla made his cinematic debut in Ramesh Modi’s film “Sauda,” where he assumed the lead role of Deepak, opposite actress Neelam. In parallel to his acting career, he pursued a vocation in singing and released several musical albums, including “Hai Dhuan,” “Awaara,” and “Mehek Teri.” His renowned track “Hai Dhuan” from the debut album “Dhuan” received widespread acclaim, solidifying his status as a prominent singer in the industry.

This conversation, recorded many years back tracks his journey – we talk about his films, about the many numbers that he has rendered, and much more – Do listen in to this conversation, with Vikas Bhalla – today, 3rd February, to our Hindi Radio Show, From our Archives, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 3:00 PM – EST.