She has trademark head of curly hair, a million dollar smile that lights up the auditorium and her melodious voice fills it with music. Penaz Masani is a warm and wonderful human being with a musical gift. It was a pleasure to meet her in Jakarta, while she was here with a dance troupe. the planets, with Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Embassy of India to present a musical evening – Tishnagi.

Penaz Masani is a celebrated name in India, amongst the many ghazal lovers. Since 1981, she has cut over 25 discs and sung in over 10 languages. She can melodiously render a vast range of ghazals, starting from the traditional to the more modern forms.
In addition to many accolades and awards, she has been honored with the Padma Shree award in 2009. She is also India’s Goodwill and Cultural Emissary with ICCR.

‘To enjoy, experience and understand the ghazals, first of all you need to be familiar with Urdu language.’ said Penaz. This Parsi  singing diva is fluent in chaste Lucknowi Urdu, which she learned from  Professor Nizamuddin Ghorekar at St Xavier College in Mumbai.

Her interest in ghazals was inspired by Begum Akhtar. Later learning ghazals from Madhurani.  To quote Penaz “Madhurani Ji is the only artist on this planet  who performs for the Gods, who is born for pure music”.

The show ‘Tishnagi’ had Penaz  singing from different Bollywood eras ably supported by the dancing troupe. Ghazals , Peppy Pop and Bollywood in her unique voice, such that one wanted to say ‘abhi na joa chod kar, ki dil abhi nahin bhara…’