Events

South Asian galaxy for
a New York nite 

A spectacular music awards nite and a couple of classical music concerts are lined up for South Asians in the US. It's a way of showing solidarity for terror victims, Ranjini Cariappa of Bollywood Music Awards tells The Music Magazine

Chitravina Ravi Kiran concerts
Atlanta, Washington DC
Oct 20, 21

Indian and sub-continental musicians are performing in the US to express sympathy for terror victims. Individual musicians like Chitravina N Ravikiran are presenting classical music concerts in Atlanta and Washington, while firms like Bollywood Music Awards are bringing to New York big pop stars from ten countries. Among the performers at the New York extravaganza are Kumar Sanu, Shubha Mudgal, Jagjit Singh, Hema Sardesai, Shaan, Hansraj Hans and Kavita Krishnamurthy. The show's promo goes: "25 sensational performers from 10 countries".

Chitravina N Ravikiran presents two concerts -- one each in Atlanta and Washington DC -- on October 20 and 21. He calls them "a prayer for all those who have suffered" in New York, Washington and Kashmir.

In a list of objectives attached to a press note, the well-known chitravina player says his intention is to "to get all likeminded citizens of the world together for the cause of positive progressive peace".

Expressing his concerns are aphorisms like "It is no longer a virtue to be good. It is a necessity." He appeals to "all religious fundamentalists to weed out hate in any form", and urges producers of films, toys and software to "reduce if not eliminate the mega-doses of violence ... served to people all over the world through their products".

He concludes with "An appeal to my Muslim brothers: Please stand up actively for the cause of the true values of your great religion -- love and peace. A jehad against innocents is a jehad against one's own conscience".

Familiar sentiments, but Ravikiran does not mention how he plans to "get all likeminded citizens together" to further his objectives. "It is not enough to depend on governments and the army," says he, "every constructive citizen must be pro-active to speak about values".

The Bollywood Music Awards nite, spectacular in scale, expresses similar aspirations and does a little bit more: it commits itself to a 10 per cent contribution of its gate collections to charities.

"It is high time that we South Asians living in America show the world that we are one and that we all will sing our support for America collectively with one voice and one heart," says one of the e-mail messages the organisers have been mailing around.

"Please show up to show your support and have a great time," Kamal Dandona, chairman of the awards firm, tells his potential audience. The event, to be held at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday, November 10, will put up a star cast of celebrities and musicians from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, UAE, UK, USA, the Caribbean, Iran and Canada. Some African performers are also slated to perform.

The American invitees include governor Pataki, mayor Gulliani, senators Charles Schumer, police commisioner Kerik, fire commisioner Vonesson, Hillary Clinton and "a whole host of Hollywood stars and American pop singers". Grammy Award winner Jose Feliciano is the "global cultural ambassador" for the annual awards show.

This year's show plans to honour donors giving 5,000 dollars or more by calling them on stage. A celebrity dinner follows.

"We are following the instructions of the president, governor and mayor to get back to normal," says Ranjini Cariappa, marketing director, Bollywood Music Awards, justifying the show in tense times. In an exclusive interview with The Music Magazine, she describes what's happening backstage.

How old is your organisation and how many such festivals have you organised?

Over three years. We have done three movie awards nites and one fashion awards nite. The second music awards nite is on November 10.

How did you bring together so many artistes from across the subcontinent? How much time did it take to get them all to agree?

It takes us a year. We tell them about our events, and in view of our merit they all agree, unless they have prior engagments or we do not agree on the fees.

Who is directing and choreographing the event?

The director is Tarun Chopra of Opusplanet Corporation, Mumbai, and the choreographer is Lollipop from Mumbai.

How do you justify the event in the present war situation? What are the problems you have had to face in organising the festival?

We are honouring the true heroes of America. We are also promoting unity among all South Asians since we have artistes from ten countries performing under one roof. The recent Columbus Day parade and Craze 2001 event, with Aamir Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Anil Kapoor and Preity Zinta, went off in early October without any problems. All shows, plays and movie theatres are back to normal, so we decided we should go ahead.

Tell us more about the awards. Who decides the winners and what is the procedure?

The movie awards are decided by ballot -- the people's choice is tabulated after we receive votes from newspapers and the Net. The music award winners are chosen by a jury. These are the biggest South Asian events in the world. Michael Jackson, Richard Gere, Steven Seagal, Ismail Merchant, and many mainstream stars have participated in our events. CNN, New York Times, Newsday, ABC and Fox TV have covered our events. No South Asian event has ever received coverage of this scale. Additionally, Zee TV carries our events globally.

TMM Desk

The nominess for the 2001 Bollywood Music Awards:

Best Music Director

A R Rahman (Lagaan)
Anu Malik (Yaadein)
A R Rahman (Zubeidaa)

Best Song

O Mitwa (Lagaan -- A R Rahman)
Jab Dil Mile (Yaadein -- Anu Malik)
Kambakth Ishq (Pya Tune kya Kiya -- Sandeep Chowta)

Best singer (Male)

Kumar Sanu (Tum Dil Ki Dhadkan -- Dhadkan)
Udit Narayan Main Nikla (Gadar)
Hariharan (Yaadein -- Yaadein)

Best Singer (Female)

Kavita Krishnamurty (Dhime Dhime -- Zubeidaa)
Asha Bhosle (Yeh Riste Pyar ke -- Yeh Raste Pyar Ke)
Alka Yagnik (Radha Kaise Na Jale -- Lagaan)

Pop

Best Album

O Laila (Stereo Nation)
Kabhi Tu Nazar Milao (Adnan Sami and Asha Bhosle)
Aks (Lucky Ali)

Best Artist (Male)

Sukhwinder (Nasha Hi Nasha Hai)
Sonu Nigam (Yaad)
Stereo Nation (Pyaar Ho Gaya)

Best Artist (Female)

Sweta Shetty (Good Luck Mundya)
Anamika (Kamaal ho Gaya)
Shubha Mudgal (Mann Ke Manjeere)

Non-pop

Best Bhangra Artist

Hans Raj Hans (Jhanjaria)
Daler Mehndi (Nabi Buba)
Sukhbir (Dil Kare)

Best Remixed album

Bally Sagoo (Anything but Silent)
Shaan (Mana Janab ne Pukara Nahin)
Bombay Vikings (Woh Chali)

Best Dance Video

Falguni Pathak (Meri Chunri Ud Ud Jaye)
Sukhbir (Dil Kare)
Sukhwinder (Nasha Hi Nasha Hai)

Best Ghazal Artist

Jagjit Singh (Aiana)
Pankaj Udhas (Ghunghat)
Talat Aziz (Khubsoorat)


Published on 21 October 2001