The Chinese are no strangers to Indian films. The influx started in the 1950s, was suspended for nearly two decades, only to resume again in the 1980s to even greater popularity. So Chinese aged from their early 30s to their late 70s may fondly remember sitting in front of the black-and-white screen and humming along to the tunes found in films like Awara Hoon or Noorie Noorie. And many were given the chance to relive those moments at the Beijing Exhibition Center Theatre, reported CCTV.com.

The Indian Modern - Classic Song & Dance Troupe has brought to China the classics of original Indian cinema music that were the biggest hits here.
   
More than anything, the carousel of song and dance gives Indian movies their unique and common identity. Actually, these musical interludes are tightly woven into the story-telling in a celebrated cinematic tradition. In hindsight, it seems amazing that at a time when pop culture was virtually non-existent in China, every Chinese had Indian film songs on the tip of their tongues.
   
Dipti Daryani, a member of the troupe, who was also a runner-up in the 2002 Miss India pageant, believes that music is the heart and soul of Indian movies.

Dipti's thoughts are echoed by her fellow troupe member and the 2003 Miss India runner-up Sonali Sehgal. The latter also pointed to the prominent place movie music occupies outside the realm of cinema.

   
When the long-awaited Awara Hoon finally came, the audience went into raptures.
   
The only disappointment of the night, according to some of the audience, was that there were too many hot pants and not enough elegantly-draped saris. After all, that's the Bollywood people came to see.

(cctv.com October 11, 2004)