At 75, Pakistani ghazal singer Farida Khanum's voice remains rich and resonant. And the audience continues to spill beyond the auditorium... Her voice evokes romantic memories of another day, of a time when love was expressed with a flutter of eyelashes and passion was a gentle feather caressing the cheek. Even at 75, Farida Khanum, the malika-e-ghazal from Pakistan, enchants and enthrals. And one just isn't talking about her rendition of the unforgettable Aaj jaane ki zid na karo, the ghazal that became her calling card. Her attire too is regal in capital letters. Dressed in a lime-green Paithani sari, fullsleeve sheer blouse, gajra in the hair and heaps of jadau gold jewellery including a diamond nose pin, a pendant that glitters with rubies and emeralds, Khanum looks every inch the grand dame that she is. "The sari and pendant are gifts from Lataji. She gave them to me two-and-a-half years ago when I visited India. She told me with much love and affection, 'you must wear them'. So here I am wearing them as she's an inspiration for me, " Khanum tells the packed FICCI auditorium in New Delhi. The aisles are overflowing. People are standing even outside the exit doors. Then the music begins. And time stops. A traditionalist by temperament and training, Khanum lays out a rich bouquet of tunes based on ragas. "Songs based on raga Bhimpalasi, Malkaus, Megh and Bhairavi hold a charm of their own. Bandish created in classical ragas are timeless, " she says. Khanum was born in Kolkata and brought up in Amritsar, before she left for Pakistan post-Partition. She recalls her early days in Kolkata, the city that introduced her to classical music and great ustads like Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Saheb and Begum Akhtar who affectionately tutored her in ghazal gayiki. In Amritsar, she learnt Punjabi and Hindustani classical from Ustad Ashiq Ali Khan under whose tutelage she excelled in khayal singing. "Yesteryear artistes were united in their love for music. They always encouraged a youngster. At Begum Akhtar's house there would be constant interactions with great ustads. Food flowed as in a langar. It was a great experience learning at the feet of such masters where adab, tehzeeb and riyaaz were the norm, " she explains, talking to TOI-Crest after the show. Today, with cross-border terrorism and Pakistan's internal strife, music has almost died. But Khanum believes that artistes can be a great binding force and music can spread the message of love. "The situation is grim. And artistes are worried, sad and disappointed. We pray that peace and tranquillity return to our country, " she says. Despite the turbulence, Khanum remains optimistic. "The new generation is brimming with talent;Atif Aslam and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan being the best examples. Ghulam Ali has been coming to India for the past 10 years. He told me, it's the love, encouragement and the rich culture of the subcontinent that keeps bringing him back, " the singer says. " What really perks Khanum up is the mere mention of A R Rahman and Bollywood. "Rahman showered me with love when I visited my daughter at Chennai a couple of years back. He was on his way to the US then but promised to meet me soon. Aisey log kam aate hain, dekhiye kitna naam aur shaurat kamai unhoney. I would love to sing for him, " says the Pakistani ghazal singer who nurses a fervent desire to sing for Bollywood. "I love the Khans: Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir. I've recently seen Shah Rukh's My Name Is Khan. It's a beautiful movie. Earlier I loved to see movies of Hema Malini and Dharmendra. His sons Bobby and Sunny. . . kya haseen bhai hain dono. Sunil Dutt, Nargis, Dev Anandji - they are all such great actors, " she says. Even when she talks prose, you can hear the poetry and music in Farida Khanum's voice. Farida's Favourites Mahal (1949): The haunting melody sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Ayega Aane Wala Pakeezah (1972): The playfully romantic Lata-Rafi duet Chalo Dildar Chalo Aandhi (1975): The Kishore-Rafi philosophically tender Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi Shikwa To Nahi Follow us on Twitter for more stories