stad Bismillah Khan and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi participated in a special Darbari Mehfil recently at a Mumbai 5-star hotel. The legends were accompanied by Dr Soma Ghosh, the renowned singer from the Benares gharana.Top industrialists, film industry bigwigs and political leaders were among the audience for the evening including Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh. Organized by Madhu Murchhana, the evening was sponsored by ONGC, Siemens, Barclays Bank, Mercator Lines Ltd. and State Bank of India, along with The Leela and Sovereign Advertising.Aradhana, an album showcasing Ustad Bismillah Khan’s childhood and sung by Dr Soma Ghosh and written by Kavi Ratna Narayan Agrawal was released on the occasion.
Bappi Lahiri and Sania Mirza help raise Rs 50 lakhs
Music director-singer Bappi Lahiri auctioned his gold chain for Rs 1.2 lakhs in a show at Kanchengunga Stadium, Siliguri. The show also featured tennis ace Sania Mirza, Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly and others. The show netted Rs 50 lakhs for tsunami relief, and the music director also sang a song he had specially composed for the occasion.
Chintan Music launches Bhagat Sai Shyam Ka
Chintan Music, a new music label, has released Bhagat Sai Shyam Ka, a devotional album composed and sung by Debangshu Chakraborty from Assam. The release function was shown live on cable network in Mumbai’s distant suburbs and off-shoot towns Virar and Palghar.
Remix album released
Smita Thackeray released Inhi Logon Ne, a remix album for H.H.Entertainments last week at a suburban hotel. The album is produced by Raziya Haneef and has ten remix tracks by DJ Bombay Boys from USA. Babu Ravi Khana has directed the videos and a part of the sales proceeds will be donated to Smita Thackeray’s Mukti Foundation.
Kyaa Kool Hai Hum music launch
The music of Balaji Telefilms’ Kyaa Kool Hai Hum was released at The Velocity, a Mumbai pub on 16 March. Present on the occasion were Jeetendra, who presents the film, producer Ekta Kapoor, director Sangeeth Sivan and lead artistes Tusshar, Ishaa Koppikar, Riteish Deshmukh and Neha Dhupia. Music director Anu Malik was conspicuous by his absence. The stars and even Jeetendra joined the guests and the media on the floor and danced away till late night.
Kuch Meetha Ho Jaaye music launch.
Producers Shemaroo Video hosted a party at a suburban club 17 March to release the music of their maiden film production, Shemaroo Films’ Kuch Meetha Ho Jaaye starring Arshad Warsi (who was out of town and could not make it), Mahima Choudhury, Sandhya Mridul, Pervin Dabas, and new finds Shravan and Mahima Mehta. Directed by Samar Khan with a special appearance by Shah Rukh Khan, the film has music by Hiemsh Reshammiya (who arrived late) and lyrics by Sameer.
Apart from the lead players and the director, singer Kunal Ganjawala, Mr Raman Maroo, President and Hiren Gada, VP, Shemaroo Video Pvt. Ltd were present on the occasion. The highlight of the album is a thumri composed by Himesh Reshammiya, which has been sung by Dr Soma Ghosh. On the occasion the music director stated that he had experimented a lot in the album and had also lent freshness to it with the thumri and its unique remix version, that maintained the purity of the form and yet made it appealing to today’s generation. It was this composition that had convinced Ustad Bismillah Khan to record for an album with him, he added.
The film marks also the launch of Shemaroo (market leaders in home video in India)’s audio label, Shemaroo Audio.
T-Series release Holi bonanza in Bhojpuri
Supercassettes Industries (P.) Ltd. has released a series of Holi albums in Bhojpuri. The audiocassettes and CDs are Haye Re Phagunhataa, Maar De Fachaak De and Rangrasiyaa and the VCDs are Nirhuaa K Holi, Bhabhi Sammelan 2005 - Khaderan Ki Holi and Holi Mein Khatiya Sataake. Haaye Re Phagunhataa is sung by Bharat Sharma ‘Byas’. Radheshyam Rasiya and others sing Maar De Fachaak De while Rang Rasiyaa is sung by Kalpana and others. Vijay Lal Yadav and others sing on the VCD Nirhuaa Ka Holi, and Manoj Tiwari ‘Mridul’ is the main singer in Khaderan Ki Holi and Holi Mein Khatiya Sataake. The music and lyrics are by various artistes. The VCDs are priced at Rs 55 and the audios at Rs 35.