Berlin: A slice of India transcended the cultural barriers as scores of Germans listened to noted Ghazal singer Penaz Masani with rapt attention singing famous numbers of Raj Kapoor and Kishore Kumar at an Indian theme party, as part of the ongoing being held here.

'Mera Juta hai Japani' and 'Mein hun Jhum Jhum Jhumroo' hardly made any sense to most people, yet they were clearly enthralled by the renditions rich with Indian flavour thanks to Tagore Centre of the Indian Embassy in Berlin, which had sponsored the Penaz programme.

Penaz began the evening with a traditional ghazal, which was followed by famous number filmed on the queen of Indian silver screen Madhubala 'Aayiye Meherban' followed by 'Mera Juta hai Japani'.

To her pleasant surprise and to a small crowd that had been flown to Berlin especially for the festival, quite a few Germans and other nationals settled in this city started singing in a chorus with her.

The response indicated that there are lovers of traditional Indian music in this distant land. "I love Raj Kapoor and I have seen several of his movies including 'Shri 420', 'Awara' and 'Mera Naam Joker'," says Raby Mermer, an Israeli settled in Germany, who sang the famous number of Raj Kapoor more prominently than the others in the crowd.

Penaz continued the programmed with 'Main hun Jhum Jhum Jhumroo' of legendary Kishore Kumar and again the chorus to this song was heard from several corners of the crowd while others, who obviously did not understand it, participated by clapping to the rhythm.

'Babuji dheere chalna' filmed on queen of Indian silver screen Madhubala was again a hit, with several lines in the song sung by a German lady.

Bollywood music in Europe in getting more and more popular. Even contemporary Bollywood movies are attracting big crowds. "Recent screening of 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gum' in Berlin confirms this mood," director, Tagore Cultural Centre in the Indian Mission, Sudhanshu Pandey said.

"Therefore, along with several classical and semi-classical performances, popular Indian music and folk dance and music are also being presented to the European audience to give them a feel of Indian melody and range," he said.

During the Indian night party, three girls of Ronney School of dance accompanying Penaz, danced in a traditional Indian style on noted musician A R Rehman's version of 'Vande Mataram'.

As the mood of the party was more and more upbeat with several people joining Penaz at the dance floor, the noted Ghazal singer gave it a further fillip by singing 'Duma dum mast qalandar' originally sung by Pakistani singer Abida Parveen.

This was followed by all types of Punjabi pop music, which kept everyone busy twisting their legs wherever they stood as there was hardly any space left on the dancing floor.

While the German women were dressed in traditional Indian sarees, which they had wrapped around themselves to satisfy the organisers of the party, the men folk were dressed in traditional Kurta Pyjama.

"I never thought that Germany would have so many Indian lovers and in fact I am amused," said Penaz.

PTI