Siavash Shams

Singer, songwriter, record producer

Bring flowers and flowers, Let's toast and let's toast

I had the pleasure of meeting Lila Kasra in 1984, a few years after the Islamic Revolution and the start of the Iran-Iraq war. This was a time when many rights were taken away from Iranian women and they were treated as second class citizens. When she wrote the song “Dokhtar Irooni” for my debut album, none of us knew how massive and influential the song and album would become. To this day the album “Hamsayeha” is the best selling Persian album of all time. The song “Dokhtar Irooni” became the anthem for what 37 years later became known as Woman, Life, Freedom. I also wrote her a poem called “Donyaye Roshan” which I gave to her as a gift shortly before her passing. Her songs and poetry are immortal and I am honored that we made history together.

Farid Zoland

Afghan songwriter and composer

Memories in Melodies

In the year 1980, I had the honor of being introduced to Mrs. Lila Kasra (Hedieh) in San Francisco by one of my friends residing in her neighborhood.

The songs I collaborated on with her include “Be khiyalam (Tekye Bar Baad)” sung by Dariush, “Ghased,” “Gharibeh” sung by Ebi, “Ineh Donya” with Homeyra’s voice, “Safar” with Moein’s voice, “Dele Ghafel” with the late Vigen’s voice, “Meykhoone,” “Yaarab,” “To Ke Nisti,” and “Ghesseye Man” with the everlasting memories of Hayedeh.

When Lila Kasra (Hedieh) shared the lyrics of “Ghesseye Man” with me, she conveyed that this song held the essence of her life story. Given my awareness of her intense battle with cancer, the deep emotional bond we shared, and her remarkable strength in confronting the relentless adversary of cancer, this heartfelt gift held immeasurable significance in my eyes.

I recall that evening, during which we, in the company of Hayedeh and Lila Kasra, joined Andranik, the meticulous arranger of this song, in the studio as we recorded Hayedeh’s vocals. The ambiance was saturated with emotion, and tears flowed freely.

May her dear soul rest in peace.

Sattar

Iranian singer with specialization in both persian pop and classical music

Bring flowers and flowers, let's toast and let's toast

I, Ahbdolhassan Satarpour (Professionally known as Sattar), have performed about 17 songs written by the late great poet Lila Kasra for which the lyrics, along with the names of the composers and arrangers, are published in one collection. 

“Here is the bridegroom, he’s like a prince

Here is the bride, she’s like sweets and honey

Here is the bridegroom, he’s like the confetti

Here is the bride, she’s like the most beautiful sonnets

Tonight is the wedding night, what a blissful night

Tonight is the night with so many kisses (dream night), what a blissful night

We’re coming with the confetti, the blessed mirror and candlestick (A Persian tradition)

We’re coming to lay bride’s hands on bridegroom’s hands (to make it happen)

This night is the best night in the entire life

For bride and bridegroom, this night is the most beautiful night

Tonight is the wedding night, what a blissful night

Tonight is the night with so many kisses (dream night), what a blissful night

Bring flowers and flowers, let’s toast and let’s toast

It’s the time for dance and jamboree, play tambourine and tube”

 Shohreh Solati

Iranian singer, songwriter & actor

Lila Will live through her songs

Speaking of and writing about Lila Kasra, our great and substantial contemporary lyricist, is not an easy task since a lot of artists owed, and continue to owe, a debt of gratitude to this great and successful poet and songwriter of ours, and her name will shine forever in Iranian history, culture, art, and literature. 

Although Lila Kasra, this great lady of songs, has not been among us for many years, her memory is forever alive in the hearts of the artists and those who love arts. 

I have had the honor of performing a few songs written by the late Mrs. Lila Kasra that are part of my most successful works and artistic resume. These include memorable works such as Yavashi and Sheytounak that were published in the mid 1980’s with the melodies and arrangements of dear artist Manouchehr Cheshm Azar. Also, there is the memorable song Atish that was performed alongside my colleagues Andy & Kouros. 

 An artist such as Lila Kasra will never die since, as she said herself, she will continue to live through her songs. 

May she rest in peace!

Let us keep her memory dear in our hearts forever! 

Kouros

Iranian–American pop singer

Kouros

Lila Kasra, professionally known as Hedieh, was both a teenager and an old soul when it came to the school of lyricism. At the height of her pain and sickness she wrote: 

My precious sweetheart!  The wait is killing me!  

And what happened to our promise? 

You do not want to see your sweetheart? 

And she would say next to this

Whenever I see a flower, I see a star! 

Until I feel the smell of Jasmine

And when I face the Qibleh, I see you

And she ended it by saying hello, hello, life hello! 

It was a day in 1987 when I went to her house for us to work on an album called “Ey Bala.” 

I waited in her living room until she was able to join me. As I was waiting, I could hear her painful agonies from her room. It was evident she was suffering and in lots of pain. Being privy to this made my heart ache for her.

It took about 30 minutes for he to come down the stairs and to join us. She was wearing a simple dress with upbeat colors. She also had a scarf on. One could probably guess how I was feeling. At this point, I really did not know how to begin a discussion about poems and songs with her. But she pulled herself together, and we started to talk about the songs. As we started to discuss the songs, she let out her complaints and discontents about the song “Akhe Nisti Aschegh” which was part of the Album called “Parvaz,” and she was hopeful that when it came to this collection, the music that accompanied her songs and the musicians who composed them would stand up and do justice to her songs. And it was during this personal hardship that Heydee wrote the songs for the album called “Ey Bala.” This time the efforts of our team, Farrokh Ahi’s composition together with her songs formed a major portion of the album called “Ey  Bala,” which became one of the best-selling, and one the most advanced, pop albums of its time. At the end, I got a gift from “Heydee” an emotional but happy lyric called “Rastesho Bogoo,” with music from the great Manoucher Cheshazad, that is yet to be released.  As we continue to pay tribute to Lila Kasra, I plan to release this song in her memory.

Aref

Iranian pop music singer & former actor. He is known as "The king of hearts" & "The legend of pop" in Iran.

Everything written by Lila was beautiful

I knew Mrs. Lila Kasra personally. We were friends with mutual respect for each other. She provided me with songs that became part of the Album called “Gharibeh.” All the songs in that album were written by Lila Kasra. The beautiful music of the song “Ey Del Ey Del”, which is part of this album, was composed by Mr. Jalil Zand who was the father of Mr. Farid Zand.  This song from Mrs. Kasra, along with its music and its performance, was very popular in our society.

Everything written by Lila was beautiful. But unfortunately, during the last years of her life, she got sick with a type Cancer that caused so much damage to her being, especially due to the side effects of the chemotherapy that led to her losing her beautiful hair. I remember very well that during the last days of her life, due to my expertise when it comes to photography, I took lots of pictures of her, one of which was often used in the articles written about her and was published many times. 

I have fond memories of Lila. She was a thoughtful, well informed, and an extremely kind lady. I knew her father was a government official in Iran, and Lila had come from a great and wealthy Iranian family. 

As her disease became more and more aggresive, she started to devote her life only to writing poetry. I kept hearing that she spends restless nights with pen and paper in hand. She always provided me with songs and wanted me to choose the ones that I liked. She wrote some of the most beautiful of her songs during that difficult period. The Late Mrs. Haydee & Mr. Moein all became famous by performing Lila’s songs. When the time came for performing and recording the songs, she would come the studio, and she would make suggestions on how to correctly sing the songs. Mr. Manouchehr Cheshmazar was very close to her and played an important part in the production and the arrangement of Lila’s works. The same was true for the late Ando (Andranik). Lila was very kind, and she never hesitated to help her friends, acquaintances and colleagues. 

Lila was one of my closest friends, and her memory is one that will remain with me for the rest of my life.

Nooshafarin

Iranian singer & actress

Lila Kasra: The poet of songs promising eternal spring!

In my teenage years I acted along side the masters of Iranian Cinema of that time, the masters I had always wanted to just take pictures with. But from the beginning my real dream was to be a singer. 

I was so fortunate during my brief career as a singer, before the 1979 revolution, to be able to work with the best, and Lila Kasra was, without a doubt, one of the best! 

Lila Kasra, the poet of warm and 

sunny words!

“The flowers of sunflower!”

“My conscience fears the rain!”

Lila Kasra, the poet who was able 

to sketch all beauties! 

“You are the sound of lilies in the 

silence of the valley!”

“A soundless sound, just like my 

heartbeat!” 

Lila Kasra, the poet was able to express the magnificence of love and depth of the credulity of a lover with the softness of simplicity! 

Lila Kasra, the poet of words that were perfumed with feminine feelings! 

“I will carry the scent of Jasmine to the night, so that I can pour your scent over the body of the night!”

It will take a long time for me to capture everything about the lyricist whose songs I performed. But I if would have to describe Lila Kasra in a single sentence I would say the following: 

Lila Kasra, the poet of songs of the eternal spring!

Moein

Iranian Singer

Everything written by Lila was beautiful

Remembering Lady Lila Kasra, with the artistic name of Hedieh, who sang beautiful songs for many artists. I am proud of my collaboration with her in beautiful and memorable works such as “SAFAR”, “CHEGOONEH CHEGOONEH”, “GOLHAYEH GHORBAT”, “TANNAZ”, “NAMAZ”, “AGE DASHTAM TORO”. Lady Kasra was a very professional, warm-hearted, and kind collaborator. 

Her memory is cherished and her spirit is joyful.

Andy

Iranian-Armenian singer, songwriter & actor. Andy awarded the 2684th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, becoming the first Iranian to receive the honor.

Lila, Greetings with Lots of Love

Lila Kasra was one of the few lyricists who had the ability to write extraordinary and successful songs for different singers while using different styles. 

Working with Lila is one of the proudest moments of my professional life. I am happy that I was able to perform a few songs written by such a legend, especially Bala & Salameh Asheghaneh   which are part of my most successful works.  I have a special fondness for these songs, and I am eternally grateful to Lila for writing them! 

When I visited Lila during the last days of her life, I very much admired the fact she was still fighting cancer with such a strong spirit, and as always, she met me for the last time with kindness and affableness. 

Lila Kasra will live eternally through her everlasting works in the hearts of those who love “Art”. Her beautiful thoughts will continue to exist in her songs! 

Homeyra

Iranian singer

No Matter Where I Am, My Heart Is Always With Iran

The late Lila Kasra, this popular & worthy artist, is one of the best songwriters that Iran has ever had. Fortunately, I too was able to perform many of the memorable lyrics written by this artist, songs that captured the attention of experts in the field!  These songs include Darya Kenar & Alameh Eshgh.