Runa Laila

Runa Laila is a Bangladeshi playback singer and composer. Widely recognized as one of the most prominent singers in South Asia, she is often referred to by the honorific title "Queen of Melody". Over her decades-long career, she has recorded songs in several languages, gaining popularity across Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. Laila began her professional career in the Pakistani film industry in the late 1960s. Her early singing style was inspired by Pakistani playback singer Ahmed Rushdi with whom she frequently collaborated on duets. She gained profound international recognition with her iconic rendition of the traditional Sufi song "Dama Dam Mast Qalandar", which cemented her status as a legendary figure in South Asian music.