|ig2E| Music Blog

Happy New Year - and a small step ahead!

2012-01-05T01:27:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Ek naya saal...and I know its time to say - A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR - to all.

And a bit of news too - VENUS RECORDS & TAPES has acquired ig2E ENTERTAINMENT's Kumar Sanu special - Tu Hain Ek Gulab. So all you romantic freaks out there with lots of Bollywood masala in your veins, get set to hear the King of Melody once again in typical 90's ishtyle:) All the songs have got a facelift; therefore, what you hear will be somewhat different to what you have heard till now.

Cheers!

ig2E Presents - Gautam's JAB MAAKHAN CHOR GOVINDA AATA HAIN.wmv

2011-10-20T20:44:00.000-07:00

ig2E ENTERTAINMENT - A small drop in the ocean of music

2011-10-20T11:37:00.000-07:00

OM - ANCIENT INDIAN (Fusion Music) 2011 ig2E ENTERTAINMENT

2011-10-14T11:33:00.000-07:00

Kumar Sanu's Tu Hain Ek Gulab (Teaser)

2011-07-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

Kumar Sanu Tu Hai Ek Gulaab (New Album 2011) To Jiya (Missing You)

2011-06-19T05:47:00.000-07:00

THE KING OF MELODY is BACK!

Tu Hain Ek Gulaab!...Presenting the KING of MELODY - Kumar Sanu...he's back with a ROSE!

2011-05-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Look who's COMING SOON...the Countdown has begun...for the KING of MELODY to hit the music charts once again in his own vintage style!

COMING SOON!

Cheers!

iTunes - Simply ahead...n how?

2011-04-22T00:51:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Here's the latest infobyte on Apple's iTunes...according to Billboard, its revenue of $1.4 billion was up from $1.1 billion in both the previous quarters. Need we say more...
Simply, a class apart. Apple has come to symbolize everything that is innovative, high quality, class and above all, fun!
Catch my latest releases - ANCIENT INDIAN and YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK on iTunes. Kunal Ganjawala's Taron Mein Chand Ho Tum...is also up there!

Cheers!

Rehman Sir's Biography on book shelves...

2011-04-15T04:59:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

The music maestro's biography, which was written by Nasreen M. Kabir and took nearly six years, made it to book shelves recently. And guess who was present to make the occasion so special for Rehman Sir?..None other than Mr. Mani Ratnam!
Titled A R Rehman: The Spirit of Music, it covers the maestro's journey from his early days till the time the Oscar awards were bestowed on him. Needless to say, it will be a 'must-read'.
Here is the link from Indian Express for you to feed on all those interesting bits of info.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Mani-Ratnam-releases-A-R--Rahman-s-biography/775732/

Cheers.
(Picture Courtesy: Indian Express)

ANCIENT INDIAN released....

2011-04-11T12:24:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

It's finally out....ANCIENT INDIAN is here. You can hear the track or buy it...

Click to hear ANCIENT INDIAN

Hope you enjoy fusion music...it wasn't easy at all...and required a lot of effort and time.

Cheers

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS - AB INDIA TODEGA ne kya TODA? - DIL TODA

2011-02-06T08:41:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody,

Following the release of ANCIENT INDIAN, I wished to share an important bit of news, which, even though I hate to say because it is in sharp contrast to our normal focus on 'fun', I have to because of my commitment and passion related to GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS TM and my two previous productions related to it. The most critical aspect though is to clarify why I have voluntarily (and with great regret) decided to stay away from the upcoming 'GWR - Ab India Todega' TV program.

After COLORS (the TV Channel) signed a broadcasting agreement with GWR TM to showcase a new TV program - "GWR-Ab India Todega", I received a call from their production house who claimed that they had got my details from GWR office, London. As per their instructions and requests, I revealed all the details pertaining to our SINGathon performance in line with Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) clauses they had originally stated and made me sign. Being a GWR TM program, and realizing the prestige and honor associated with it, I maintained a professional, positive, open and clear approach throughout; whether it was to do with discussing and sharing details related to the SINGathon-Singing Relay concept/process/monetary matters/ suggestion of ideas etc or keeping it 'fun' throughout since they had clearly and openly agreed to do our performance. However, the problems started to crop up after they got all the informatiion and thereafter when I requested them for details from their side.
Soon, it was turning out to be a "one-way traffic" or should I say a "dictator-type" affair where I was expected to provide them with all details throughout but they skillfully managed to avoid giving me any details that I asked for, putting me in a tight spot, as such actions were simply not in line with the NDA clauses. I knew it was just a matter of time that I would be completely at their mercy and what I had originally thought of may just not happen at all. While that too was something I would have considered simply because of the support I had from the senior artists and my passion for GWR and music, it all started to become a FARCE when the production house asked me to contact the channel while the channel kept passing the buck back again to the production house. Finally, and not surprisingly, things started to wobble and despite my best efforts to salvage the situation in a way beneficial to both parties, keeping in mind the GWR value, they did what I almost expected...SCOOT! It was a typical, 'give-me-all, thanks' and then 'you're-not-required, bye' game being played.

The episode has let me down so much that I do not wish to associate with either the production house or the TV channel. No proper co-ordination, woeful lack of clarity on both project execution and monetary aspects, utter disrespect for Bollywood celebrity playback singers and musicians and above all, and I say this with full conviction - downgrading the value, prestige and heritage of GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS TM, both as a brand and as an institution. I say this because I (and so many singers and participants) have personally witnessed, experienced and enjoyed the professionalism, methodical nature and humane approach of their adjudicators and staff, long before either this production house or the TV channel may have given even an iota of thought to them!

Maybe it is "money-play" or some other factor/s at work that has influenced them and left left me utterly disappointed; however, my dream of the WORLD'S BIGGEST BOLLYWOOD SINGathon, (which would have beaten my previous record attempt and given all our singers and participants so much happiness and joy) still remains. We were the FIRST to do it, and we are glad we did it.

As for the TV program, all I have to say is:

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS TM - AB INDIA TODEGA ne khud kya TODA? - DIL TODA!...Ek nahi, balki karodo music aur Bollywood-loving INDIANS ke dilon ko TODA!

Kaise/How: Because they lacked insight and therfore refused to allow music and Bollywood-loving artists to come together to perform and establish a NEW GUINNESS WORLD RECORD TM in their own country! This, despite all assurances related to process, money, co-operation and any other matters!

That's all guys!

Thnx,
Krish

ig2E Presents - ANCIENT INDIAN (releasing worldwide)

2011-01-25T23:52:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Even as we wait with bated breath to see how the GWR - Ab India Todega program goes, which so far has not been worthwhile for us, we are glad to announce the release of ANCIENT INDIAN - a fusion instrumental. It is very different from the normal commercial music but then this was one of the works I had been planning to release for a long time.

Hope all of you will like it!

The next release will be a commercial production.

Thnx.

Finally, after a long wait, GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS is here!

2010-12-29T09:21:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody,

As we head into the New Year, a great development has just grabbed headlines...COLORS TV Channel has signed a broadcasting deal with GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS TM, London to host an Indian version of the TV show, aptly titled: GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS - Ab India Todega.

Here are some of the links to check out:

http://www.colorstv.in/shows/show-details/guinness-world-records-ab-india-todega-36/

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv-/Indian-version-of-Guinness-World-Records/articleshow/7156746.cms

http://media247.co.uk/bizasia/newsarchive/2010/12/colors_acquires_3.php

Needless to say, it is bound to be one nail-biting, exciting and an enthralling show. However, what needs to be noted is that COLORS has truly taken a critical step forward in Indian television with this move. Apart from the fact that they were able to recognize the 'inherent value' of GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS much ahead of the others, they must also be lauded for the 'internationalization' of tv shows in India, while trying to retain an Indian feel to it.

All I can say, being a passionate GUINNESS... buff myself, "KEEP the GOING GOOD"!

Cheers.

MMX (Mobile Music Exchange) - Taking roots...

2010-12-12T04:33:00.000-08:00

A consortium of top Indian music industry labels have come together to form Label Mobile Media Pvt - under the MMX initiative that seeks to reign in rampant illegal downloading of songs to mobile chips. Without doubt, the task is not going to be easy.

What's the solution?...I guess, it should be to build awareness. But then, with technology developments moving at a frenetic pace so hard to match, the music industry giants, as usual, will find themselves outpaced by it all so whatever monies they are able to recover from this initiative is bound to be treated just as an 'added bonus'. However, if it works, it could turn out to be a great money-spinner. Therefore, it all boils down to the BIG chase by the BIGGIE labels after the HIT-n-RUN and 'make-quick-bucks' mobile pirates! Let's see how they manage to tackle the 'mobile menace'!!!

Will MMX turn out to be a WHAT AN IDEA SIRji initiative or will it be yet another instance of a promising idea doomed to go bust?..only time will tell.

Thanx.

Badhai ho Badhai to VENUS RECORDS & TAPES

2010-09-11T01:30:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Firstly, I wish to thank Nagaraj for his comments, but I apologize for not having responded or updated my blog as we had some technical issues at our end. Now that things are back on track, I shall keep providing regular updates.

Today, VENUS RECORDS & TAPES is celebrating 25 glorious years in Bollywood. Heartiest congratulations to them for their tremendous achievement. They are a success story in both the magic departments of Music and Films. Let's take a bow!

Cheers!

GAME ON! - The battle of the Steve's...the battle of PCs vs Tablets (call it iPad)!

2010-06-06T11:21:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody,

Far away in America, wonder company Apple's wonder-CEO Steve Jobs stated last week that PCs will ultimately give way to Tablets...in other words, we will witness PCs being phased out over a period of time. Now, that's a monumental statement..simply because there aren't many folks who are not 'hooked' to PCs. It's so deeply ingrained in our day-to-day lives. And with Apple emerging hugely successful with its iPads (soundly beat analyst estimates etc.), you never know. It could happen. Imagine a sound engineer entering the studios and dabbling with a Tablet (say advanced!)...no PCs at all...grhhh

But good old and nastily noisy Steve Ballmer - Microsoft CEO...he's got this high-decibel voice too that I somehow relate to...was not to take it lying down. He hit back with his customary gusto, ruling out any possibility of PCs disappearing anytime soon. On the contrary, he even roared about the Macs being the 'trucks' - after Steve 'Apple' Jobs had earlier likened the PC-to-Tablet idea to that of 'trucks-to-cars' evolution.

Well, let's wait n watch. Whatever happens, it will surely have a profound effect on the way our 'sound technicians' in the music industry work. With the huge number of Mac-followers here, I don't have to think too deep to realize which Steve they would be having their eyes on:)

Cheers!

On popular demand...here it is...my first song with Kunal Ganjawala - "TARON MEIN CHAAND HO TUM..." released in 2007-2008.

2010-06-06T06:11:00.000-07:00

This is just a 'Preview'. I shall be uploading the full version shortly so that everybody can enjoy. It's a Kunal Ganjawala special.

Cheers!

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY - Spare a thought! It's NOT music for the ears!

2010-06-05T10:59:00.000-07:00

Hi mates,

Moving away from music a bit, I thought I'd talk about something very dear to all of us....

Today, 5th June is WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY. It assumes great significance in a world where the need for MONEY has surpassed everything else, and that includes thinking about our Planet EARTH. Pollution of air, rivers and seas, dumping of toxic waste, lack of awareness on re-cycling...the list goes on and on. And that is why it is not music to our ears; instead, it's a cause for major concern; both for the developed countries in the West and in developing economies like India.

However, what was hearteneing was that today various initiatives undertaken by both Government agencies and particularly by large multinational firms showed that they are people who want make a difference. And we should salute them because their efforts will benefit the rest; whether the rest heeds or not.

In Delhi, the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi in association with the Department of Environment, GNCTD, organised a Sustainable Transport Rally which included bicycles, electric cars and electric bikes.

Meanwhile in Mumbai, Garnier India in association with CEE (Centre for Environment Education) and The Times of India successfully concluded the ‘Take Care, Take Charge’ campaign, which was rolled out way back on 22nd April, World Earth Day. The campaign received over 5,000-plus ideas (I, an Earth-lover, had also sent my idea!...) which were then sorted into six themes — water conservation and pollution, energy generation and conservation, recycling and waste management, transportation and vehicular pollution, heritage and conservation of culture, and biodiversity and greening.

Finally, winners were declared from six cities — Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, and Kolkata and their winning ideas taken up for implementation.

Great efforts and hopefully, the word will keep spreading!

Cheers!

Apne Project ki Shaan - SHAAN!

2010-06-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

Hey LHSF mates,

Yet another artist who graced our world-record music event was none other than our very own 'Tanha dil, Tanha safar...' super star singer - SHAAN.

As cheerful and lively as ever and encouraged by Kumar Sanu himself, Shaan was in the thick of action rightaway. He heard the track a couple of times, did a few quick rehearsals, followed by takes and that was it. As effortless as it could be...Shaan-style and it was fun too.

I am surely looking forward to and praying I get more opportunities to work with him more in the near future.

We're proud of apna Shaann-da and yes, he becomes our shaan too!

Cheers!

HEMA SARDESAI - As sweet as ever...and FIRST too!

2010-06-05T06:48:00.000-07:00

Hi LHSF folks,

Here is an interesting bit of info on our song.

Guess who 'actually' sang the first word of our song?

Answer: Even though it was Kumar Sanu who sang the 'first word' from a technical perspective, it was Hema Sardesai the Diva, who had actually set the ball rolling.

With a voice (and a person) as sweet as hers, I know I have my task cut out.

Little wonder then that I intend to spare no effort to ensure our song sets all ear drums 'drum'-ming..!.

Here she is...

And if you want to know more about our 'Awaara Bhavaren' Diva, click here: http://hemasardesai.com/

Cheers!

INFOSYS and Singing????...Read it to believe it!

2010-06-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

I'm sure this blog post will raise many an eyebrow. And that's because it brings together for the 'first time' ever, singing enthusiasts from India's biggest IT success story firm - INFOSYS, to participate in a world-record event. While the whole world may have a 'geek-y' perception of Infosys, I had a feeling there could be singing enthusiasts there too, particularly Carnatic. Additionally, I had always desired to make a song that was able to bring together various sections/strata of society, including professionals. Not surprisingly, the response was fantastic (a big thanks to their HR team too) and we had six particpants, who FLY KINGFISHERed to Mumbai from Bengaluru (and Mysore). Though it was a totally 'new' experience for them, all of them managed to record their portions; some with ease and some with slight difficulties.

They have also been writing to me at regular intervals, to know what's happening...for certificate/badges/song release etc. I can understand their anguish and feel sorry too, but then...a 'recession-ed' and marooned Krish is on a low...hoping and trying hard to rebound..and when that happens, I hope to bring miles and miles of smiles on their faces.

Here they are all...INFOSYS in a SONG...Ravindra Singh, Amit Kr. Shrivastava, Siju Pappachan John, Vasu Belide, K. MohanBabu and Nagaraj Angadi.

The Mumbai edition of MID-DAY had also featured an article somewhere around that time of the year...with a quote from Vasu Belide too. Take a read here...http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/aug/310809-Krishna-Infosys-HR-employees-Guinness-Vasu-Belide-software-engineer.htm

I hope I can have a party with them soon. How soon?...well..even as I wish it is (as they say in geek-y language..asap:), I realize there is still some time to go. But I remain focussed as ever to get it released sooner rather than later.

Thnx.

Feature on eBay participants - Sudhanshu Jain and Naveen Bararia

2010-06-05T05:03:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

As I mull the release dates for our song, I am taking out time to present the eBay participants, who also made it to the record event. Though we had a banner that was reportedly beamed worldwide on their HomePage (www.ebay.in), surprisingly and of course, frustratingly, there were very few bidders.

Here are the participants who finally made it, much to their delight!

On the left is Naveen Bararia, while on the right is his friend, Sudhanshu Jain, who egged him on. Both were able to fly in to Mumbai from Delhi on time and recorded their portions without much fuss.

I do feel a bit sad as I have not yet been able to 'live up' to their expectations due to the delay in releasing our song, but then when sometimes things go beyond control, well....!

Hoping I'm able to come back soon and get the job done.

Thnx

ig2E Update - Kind of stuck; but working hard to complete it.

2010-06-05T04:23:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

I have been receiving numerous calls and mails from my singers and other participants asking me as to where our Project is headed. Agreed, its almost a year since we started this mega-project and the release is pending. I would like to express my regrets and tender my apologies to everybody associated with the song for the delay.

Thnx.

Google MUSIC STORE - Will it happen?...How soon?

2010-05-22T22:50:00.000-07:00

We've just heard recently that search giant Google is all set to grace our televisions. Well, there is yet another big development that is even more 'exciting'...especially for those in the music business. Yes, we've heard about the iTunes and how its been such a big success ( I have mentioned it in one of my previous posts). Imagine, Google coming up with its own Music Store...some kinda Android music store you could say!

The company has already acquired Simplfy Media, a company whose software lets users stream music from their iTunes libraries from their home computers to other mobile devices, through the Internet. And now, Google itself will be able allow Android users to stream their desktops at home to their phones, via a dedicated service.

Yet another great aspect....the software runs on both Windows and Mac machines, and works not only with iTunes (i.e. non-DRM songs), but also with WinAmp and Windows Media Player. Now what more can you ask for?

Bring it on, Google. we're waiting!

Cheers!
Pic. Courtesy: Scherle.com

Google TV - Yet another super-cool technology demo by GOOGLE!

2010-05-22T07:22:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody,

This time I'm delving on a company, which deserves so much praise..that no matter how much you praise, it will be less. I'm talking of GOOGLE and its new product, Google TV.

Guess what, it will bring the Internet and the Television closer for the first-time ever! Imagine searching for a video on the net, YouTube has it and then when you click play, you're no more watching on your desktops/laptops/smartphones...but hold on...you're watching it on your televisions. Wow! Isn't that just great? And yes, the Google search bar will sit pretty in some 'chosen' corner of the television for this to happen in reality.

I can't wait to get it!

Cheers!

All India Radio (AIR)...the sleeping giant gets a 100 crore boost!

2010-05-09T09:23:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Most of us in the metros are so much familiar with the private FM radio players - Radio MIRCHI, RED FM, BIG FM (Reliance Media World), Radio City etc. In the midst of them all, there is this tendency to forget about the Big Daddy of them all...apna AIR (Akashwaani).

Now, finally, the Government seems to be waking up with a Rs. 100 crore package, which according to the Financial Express will be utilized "...to generate fresh content, digitise its hardware and conduct live concerts, among other initiatives. AIR will also use a part of the funds towards the preservation of its over 60-year-old archives."

Currently, there are approx. 250 private FM stations running across the country but most of them seem to be impacted by, as FE states, "...incurring losses due to high cost of operations, licence fees and heavy royalties to the music industry." AIR currently holds a market share of just over 20% in the Indian radio industry.

Whether the infusion of funds will mark a new beginning for AIR remains to be seen. Will the sleeping giant make a strong statement and give the private players a run for their money?...here's hoping for the best!

Cheers!

Digital music sales up; CD sales down in UK....

2010-05-08T07:34:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

It's been a busy month for me...lots of meetings, change of plans etc. etc. As time goes by, I realize the growing pain of releasing my album and track in a market that can be best described as 'too tough'.

Anyways, there's no losing heart and I remain commited as ever.

Coming to some good news, we have some from UK where digital sales have recorded some decent growth, meaning there has been a rise in music downloading from the Internet. The bad part however - its the same old stories - illegal downloading remains rampant and CD sales continue to decline.

Whether this trend catches up is anybody's guess but with the Internet becoming more accessible (from mobile phones too), the signs should be positive.

Cheers!

The magic of GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS TM...a pop singer who is blind...and a Ferrari!!!

2010-04-06T13:48:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Its been sometime since I logged in but then my hectic schedule has got a lot to do with it.

Anyways, here is something really amazing...Turkish pop-singer, Metin Senturk, who has been blind since the age of three, set a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS TM by driving a Ferrari F430 at 292.89 km per hour...that too unaccompanied!...would you believe it?...he had been only in radio contact with another driver in a car that followed him...

What do I say? Well, its the magic of GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS TM in action..as always! Doesn't that make the world so interesting..so exciting...so fascinating?

Cheers!

Pic coutesy: Reuters

Costs for a typical Music Production in the West - An eye-opener!

2010-03-09T22:12:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Today, I'm delving a bit on costs/investmetns in the music industry in the West. Don't be shocked...but then..reality does bite at times. It was released by the world's premier industry body, so its as authentic as it can be. I have converted the costs/investments into Rupees to get a fair idea and make some sense of it all.

Advance - $200,000 (Rs. 1 Crore)
Recording - $200,000 (Rs. 1 Crore)
Three videos - $200,000 (Rs 1 Crore)
Tour support - $100,000 (Rs.50 lakhs)
Promotion and marketing - $300,000 (Rs. 1.5 Crores)

So, a typical expense bill for an artist, if one follows a standard recording and release process is = Rs. 5 Crores!

Cheers!

"PNS" - WHAT IS THAT or shud I say WHAT THAT ISN'T?

2010-03-06T11:21:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Today, I'm talking about an issue which isn't 'so musical' in nature but affects the music industry too nonetheless. It's about PNS or 'Paid News Syndrome'.

PNS has been around for quite sometime actually but only now has it acquired prominence, so much so that Information & Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni too is talking about it in Parliament and accepting it as a major concern and threat to the very concept of Freedom of Press and of course, democracy!

Why is that so? It's a simple answer. News which you normally see in Newspapers and television and elsewhere is NOT really news. It is PAID FOR news; but readers will never realize it because of the 'subtle' way it is presented. So if you want 'your' news to be presented on the front page of a newspaper/tabloid/magazine, you pay say Rs. 8-10 lakhs, for inside pages - Rs.4-5 lakhs; and for a small paragraph - Rs. 1 lakh and so on. In short, it is nothing but 'making money from news'. Film reviews are a classic example!

The problem becomes serious when the very newspapers and television channels that practice this approach of 'taking money to print news and other stories' also start acting as 'custodians of the society' or the 'flagbearers of the Freedom of the Press'. And that is because while on one hand they operate in a medium where being unbiased, impartial and 'not-influenced-by-money' are considered true values and the way the public perceives it, what they practice ends up as being almost the opposite! Its like a guy who exploits, say a charity/trust/NGO's name but keeps minting money behind-the-scenes. Its natural that it results in a terrible loss of 'credibilty' and 'respect'.

The word 'PRESS' becomes a synonym for MONEY and BRIBE. WRONG news can become RIGHT news if it is paid for...And the Press becomes a full-fledged BUSINESS. And its a rut, or you could even say, a potentially dangerous 'rot' after that. And the guys in the profession start to imitate and start living a lavish lifestyle, which once addicted to becomes a tough task to get rid of...

Is that the way the PRESS or the Freedom of the PRESS was designed? Is freedom being taken for granted and being misused? May be a Pranoy Roy or a Prabhu Chawla or a Rajdeep Sardesai or a TOI or Mid-Day or HT could throw more light on that! Will make for an interesting debate, for sure. After all, we're living in an age where money IS everything...and so is the MEDIA!

Cheers!

55th Idea-FILMFARE Awards - It's Rehman Sir again...for Dilli 6...and the other Music Winners!...

2010-03-01T20:27:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

The 55th Annual Idea-FILMFARE Awards just concluded last night and there were winners galore. FILMFARE does not need any introduction and all those who receive awards from them realize they are on cloud nine...and have every reason to be happy and elated for their individual achievements.

Here are the list of MUSIC Winners; that's the way I'd call it:-)

Best Music: A R Rahman for Dilli 6

Best Lyricist: Irshad Kamil for Aaj Din Chaddya, Love Aaj Kal

Best Playback Singer (Female): Rekha Bharadwaj for Genda Phool, Delhi 6 and Kavita Seth for Ik Taara, Wake Up Sid

Best Playback Singer (Male): Mohit Chauhan for Dilli 6

RD Burman Music Award: Amit Trivedi

Best Sound Design and Best Editing: Firaaq

Congratulations to all the Winners!

Cheers!

HOLI Hai...!

2010-03-01T03:51:00.000-08:00

Hi LHSF mates,

Its HOLI today...the FESTIVAL of COLORS...Here's wishing you all a Very happy HOLI...and hoping all of you are having a great time with your loved ones, friends and everybody with whom you'd like to share happy moments...eat..drink (bhaang ka kamaal...) and be merry!

Cheers!

iTunes spins its magic...10 billion downloads sold!

2010-02-25T22:22:00.000-08:00

Hi LHSF mates,

Here's a big piece of news...Apple's music store iTunes reached a major milestone after it sold its (staggering) 10 billionth download this week...

It all started in April 2003 amid all the scepticisms and doubts but the way Apple managed it all...well...hat's off to them. While it took five years to reach the 5 billion mark, it just took another 20 months to reach the 10 billion mark!

We can just sit and watch...and watch..and watch!

Cheers!

Marathi Abhimaan Geet...All the best to Kaushal:)

2010-02-24T21:51:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody,

While we continue to move ahead, there is this great news about Kaushal Inamdar, which I thought I'd share with all. He is releasing his MARATHI ABHIMAAN GEET on 27th February. which also happens to be the Marathi Bhasha Diwas.

However, what is special about this song (and as is reported by newspapers), he claims its the 'biggest' song with over 450 artists...112 established singers and 356 upcoming singers. How it has been recorded is not yet known; we will know once we hear the track. Interesting for sure!

Here's wishing Kaushal all the best!...(even as I was surprised to find the names of Suresh Wadkarji and Shankar Mahadevanji in the final list who were downright (and even angry) against such a concept when I had approached them long time back!)

Anyways, I d also take this opportunity to clarify to all those people who have been calling me and enquiring about our 333 singers' song. Well, now that we have been surpassed, there are only 2 options:
a. To go ahead and release the 333-song version; OR
b. Get back to beating the 450-mark!...which is definitely possible.

However, since this is all about music and not some rat race, my initial thoughts say I may avoid Option b. Even as I'm still unaware as to 'who' was behind this inspiration/idea as Kaushal claims in one of the newspapers, I have always had a deep respect for Marathi culture and the people; so if the 333-mark is bettered by a Marathi, I can only feel happy and delighted...and of course, wish Kaushal the best, yet again!

Cheers!

Indian Copyright Act debate continues...

2010-02-21T07:03:00.000-08:00

Hi LHSF mates,

Another mixed week for me! Some things worked; while some didn't.

Coming to what's making news in the music industry, the Copyrights Act (about which I had discussed earlier as well) made waves following the Javed Akhtar-Aamir Khan spat. Not surprising... as both sides had their own interpretations. While debates are bound to be acrimonious due to the complex nature of the issue, and because it had been largely swept under the carpet all these years, the good thing was that producers requested Aamir to be back on board and he, as a gentleman that he is, relented.

Coming to who is right and how things are likely to pan out; it remains to be seen what the seniormost people of the industry...both producers and creative artists finally decide on.

My take...well; the producer will retain the upper hand...and rightly so because from a 'production-level'...he is the boss right through..from start to finish. Writers, musicians and other creative artists may lay claim to their dues...agreed, they have a 'mission-critical' kind of a role, which is obvious given how songs remains central to a movie/album, but what needs to be noted is that in the final analysis, they are all a part of a bigger picture.

A song may be well-written and have great music, but then it must have good stars, good choreography, cinematography, locations, costumes.etc..etc...and who's the person driving it all?...the Producer. So, whatever the producer decides will largely determine the way remunerations and royalties are paid out finally...is what my gut feeling is. Additionally, since not every film ends as a blockbuster, large-scale variations in the amount of payments distributed too can be expected. Its a tough world out there and a struggle and risk for everybody...but since money matters..and matters a lot in the world we're living today, there's a lot riding in this issue.
Let's hope its a win-win for all parties involved.

Cheers!

Music pirates go MOBILE!...Memory Card se seedhi baat...Baaki sab bakwaas!

2010-02-14T03:56:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

After a hectic ten days, just back. Kailash, Madhavi, Rajesh Bisen, Suddhanshu Jain..all called me to enquire what's up at my end and I made sure all of them got the latest updates.

Today I'm delving on an age-old topic...piracy...and their elite gangs of music pirates...I call them the 'bold' guys of the music industry or even maybe the 'levellers'...coz they make music so 'affordable' for those with shallow pockets and fun for those with deep pockets. All those biggie music companies have no 'mindspace' in their scheme of things.

And now, they have gone 'mobile'. No audio cassettes, no CDs...their target? Mobile phone memory cards. It's easy, its downright cheap..and they 'load' with whatever content you want...all you need to do is to visit those shady outlets...NO PAIN..ALL GAIN!

And what's the music industry doing? Of course, they stand to lose big time if illegal doownloading on mobiles gains greater traction. After all, look at how mobile phones have triumphed as music-hearing devices. So they've come up with a scheme for these pirates...this can sound somewhat intriguing...but its true..and its called MMX...and these guys can actually obtain a 'license' and then can carry on with their business as usual.

Interesting for sure...but will pirates, as they are known to be...especially the 'original' and die-hard ones take the bait? There are reports of some success in states where pilot programs are being launched, which is heartening...but how long will it be before we have yet another new instance of music pirates taking on the labels yet again?

Cheers!

MXP4, RjDj take shots at Original music?...any takers?

2010-02-04T11:54:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody,

As the music industry tries to shake off the decline in sales of audio cassettes and CDs, and the digital medium tries to ensconce itself, tech firms are resorting to rather extreme steps, making their own assumptions of customer desires...so the latest tools that are set to hit the markets are something similar to the 'remix'-concept. This time though, it will help users to do whatever they want, try any sounds, beats and what not on the Original compositions directly.
While MXP4 will help users to mix the Original compositions in any way they like including mashing songs together (DJ's often do this on Bollywood tracks...), RjDj, which is available as a standalone app the iPhone allows users to influence the music with any kind of feel; meaning one can manipulate the original with sounds like the wind, waves, crowds...and make it unique at a particular moment. And what are people doing all this called...hold your breath?...'reactive' music producers. Whoops!

Now that leaves me wondering...since being an 'active' and successful producer entails spending a lifetime (not to mention all those struggles and what not), how about being a 'reactive' music producer? Not a bad thought? It's surely a little bit of fun...Only thing...again its all about tampering Originals...I'd rather leave the Originals the way they are and enjoy...isn't it!

Temporary joy this...what else?

Cya..Cheers!

A R Rehman Sir does it again...

2010-02-01T23:37:00.000-08:00

Hi LHSF guys,

Close on the heels of Padma Shri Award, AR Rehman Sir has done it again...not 1 but 2 GRAMMY Awards...wow!...What should I say?...I'll get musical...so I'd say...It's Music to India's ears:)
And its the 'Slumdog Millionnaire' magic again!

When is the Knighthood coming?....

Cheers!

2010 GRAMMY AWARD Nominations - 3 Cheers!

2010-01-31T02:31:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody,

Isn't it great to see 'three' Indian music legends nominated for the 2010 Grammy Awards? Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rehman, Tabla Maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan...I'd say THREE CHEERS and hoping we get across the next step too and win them..isn't it?
From a purely Indian perspective, I'd say that all three stand a great chance and they deserve too. After all, they are legends in their respective fields.

By early Tuesday morning, we shall come to know the results. Till then , lets keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best:)

Cheers!

Phir Mile Sur...all show and perspiration...where's the inspiration?

2010-01-26T11:14:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Like all of you (and I'd be right if I say the whole country) I too was waiting eagerly for Phir Mile Sur; after all, is there a soul who wouldn't like to see such an iconic, timeless beauty of a song become even better?

But when I took a look on television on CNN-IBN hoping it will rock; it was actually pretty lengthy too...for some reason, (and I do not wish to sound critical either...as its not in my nature, and being a creative person myself), I could sense a 'something going in a different direction altogether'...where was the connect? Was it a case of too many people, too much 'artificialness'...or maybe sth to do with the visual editing or the even the sound or singers?...something was missing...and badly missing...very difficult to explain too!

There's no point blaming anybody since the subject itself - remaking a classic - was such that it always faced the risk of carrying sky-high expectations. And that was because the original was just too good!

All in all, while the visuals clearly demonstrated that a lot of hard work had indeed gone into the making, it left us with a feeling that it could have been much much better. After all, we wanted it to be the best, isn't it?...like the old, original one. Well, even as I'd hate to ignore Phir Mile Sur, MILE SUR MERA TUMHARA remains where it always rightfully belonged to...ON TOP!

Cheers!

musicDNA: MP3's new avatar? Only time will tell.

2010-01-25T20:19:00.000-08:00

Namaskar to all and a Happy Gantantra Divas!

As we celebrate Republic Day, I have some great news coming even though its somewhat technical. The inventors of the MP3 player (in 1993 by Bach Technology...that's almost 16 years ago) have come up with a new 'deluxe' file format called musicDNA, which is expected to succeed MP3. While beta tests are in the offing, the fact that it will indeed be a genuine successor remains to be seen particularly because there have been many such instances of new file formats in the past but none have had a major impact.

The reason I say musicDNA assumes significance is because it comes from the 'inventors of MPs'...they're the original tech-geeks and with MP3 being a super-success, this file format has enough meat to be taken seriously.

HOW WILL IT BE DIFFERENT?

The key point of differentiation is this:

When you 'download' an MP3 file, you get 'additional content' in the form of it lyrics, images, videos, artwork, blog posts and news updates. Its up to the user to decide as to how much content they want.

And if you download illegally, you don't get all these updates.

Well, not too sure how the end-user experience will be...only time will tell since there doesn't seem to be any 'shortage' of content online as such these days; be it videos, news, images, lyrics etc. It's more a case of 'pooling' or maybe aggregating content in this case. Will music lovers really go for something like this or will they continue to prefer just the song(s) without all these add-ons?

Will have to wait and watch. Interesting, for sure!

Cheers!

Saraswathi Puja at Kumar Sanuda's studio...20th Jan.

2010-01-23T22:53:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody,

During last week, Sanuda was kind enough to invite me to join him, Bali Brahmbhatt and many other celebrities to celebrate Saraswati Puja at Sana Music World. The occasion was so moving and spiritual that it left an indelible mark in me. The puja, the hymns and shlokas, followed by a bhog were just amazing. and to top it all, there were so many artists who graced the occasion.
Kavita(ji) Krishnamoorthy, who is busy with her daughter's marriage, was among the first to drop in and also played an active role in the Puja. Later, Alka(ji) Yagnik, music director Jatin (of Jatin-Lalit fame), Abhijeet, Sonu Nigam, lyricist Sameer(ji), music director Aadesh Srivastava and many other artists all came in one-by-one. As usual, the media guys were on their toes to garner whatever noise bites they could.

I too immersed myself in the sacred atmosphere. After the Puja, I had my share of the bhog (to be honest, I could have had more of the khichdi, kheer, tomato chatni, rasogollah; but somehow resisted my temptations:)...and it just felt so good...I was left wanting for more!

I'll be back next year for sure.

Cheers!

Mile Sur Mera Tumhara...remember?..its back as PHIR MILE SUR-The Song of India!

2010-01-23T21:03:00.000-08:00

Happy Sunday morning to all,

It's Republic Day round the corner and what better time to go back to the late 80s and recall the evergreen MILE SURE MERA TUMHARA song...rendered by legends...how can anybody forget it?..even the video was par excellence as it managed to touch a chord with every Indian who saw it...its more than 20 years and the beautiful melody still echoes in our hearts and minds...
well, come this Republic Day, its getting a fresh new life as the TIMES Group is all set to re-launch the track in a new avatar titled PHIR MILE SUR...The Song of India. Guess its more of 'rock' version even as I haven't had a close look as yet.

Great initiative by the Times Group and here's wishing them the very best. They are among the biggest media groups. With all that power and reach, we're sure PHIR MILE SUR will get the respect and visibility it needs and will ROCK!

Cheers!

Indian Copyright Act, 1957...Amendments...what are the implications?

2010-01-23T00:47:00.000-08:00

Hi LHSF mates,

Today, I thought I'd talk about something about which artists are hardly bothered about. Not without reason too...that's because if all musicians, directors, singers, writers were to only think about this topic, there may be a good chance that attention and focus required on their 'core' work might wane. And this topic is full of complicated jargons, and interpretations too.

I'm talking The INDIAN COPYRIGHT ACT, 1957 and it has been in the news recently. While I'm sure many senior, junior and upcoming artists may not have delved deeper (except for a select few luminaries like Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pt.Harikumar Chaurasia, Javed Akhtar saab, Sameerji, Jagjit Singh and others), SCREEN Magazine and RadioandMusic have come up with great articles on this topic and I will suggest all of you read it (that is, if you're really interested!)

My take: On one hand, there is this talk about artists not getting their due. The outcome is: criticizing all music industry associations etc. and that they are not paying etc.

On the other hand, there is this changing 'technology landscape', where new technologies (online, telecom and other digital media..radio, television, satelite bla bla) are posing new challenges for everybody in the entertainment business..so you have 'remixes' being played, new ring tones packages, DRM-free downloads, web streaming...and what not...

This means it may not be entirely correct to blame industry associations such as IPRS etc. I, for one have always had a great relationship with IPRS and they have always been forthcoming and frank in their approach in addition to being co-operative. Ditto with the other bodies like IMI-PPL, IPRS, FWA and others. In fact, Rakesh(ji) Nigam must be singled out for his excellent management. Similarly, Savio Sir and Vipulji too are professionals of the highest standards (they have always been co-operative and also given me valuable inputs when I required, despite the fact that I'm - to be honest - hardly a major player today compared to giants such as SONY Music, UNIVERSAL, SaReGaMa and others).

Conclusion: Let's stop the blame game; get talking - it may take some time and effort; arrive at a consensus where both sides can freely discuss issues and then take it forward without acrimony.

And finally, before all of this, learn what the Copyright Act is all about. After all, half knowledge is always half...it always looks better when its full and complete:)

Cheers!

Quitters are not Winners, Amey....the show must go on!

2010-01-17T09:14:00.000-08:00

Hi LHSF mates,

I happened to watch Amul Music ka Maha Muqabla tonight and was shocked to see all that 'action' on the program with Amey walking out. That was a bit too hard to digest and could have been handled better. I'm not too sure if its a TRP game either as many people feel.

Even as all of us respect and admire Amey, he should have been maintained his 'cool' and accepted the final decision made by the judges. After all, all judges are very senior and accomplished singers and we need to respect them first; regardless of their opinions.

I sincerely hope things get resolved as I know how passionate Gajendra Singh is about song shows.

As for Amey, well, quitters are never winners! And if its a case of getting too emotional, get back to normal Amey; it happens with nearly everybody... patch up, cool down and come back soon. Let's see some good singing; not all this action-vaction!

Cheers!

Anup Jalotaji in LHSF...along with Ram Shankar

2010-01-17T02:50:00.000-08:00

Happy Sunday to all,

Continuing from my previous post, I'd like to delve a bit on Anup Jalotaji, who incidentally has rendered his magical voice for our world-record track.

It so happened that Ram Shankarji had himself sung earlier and when Anupji heard about it from him, he was kind enough to lend a ear and join in. After hearing the track, it was his turn to join the other 'great' singers of our time and soon we recorded his portion.

For me personally, it was so special of Anupji to record his part that I could actually imagine a certain void filling within me. Call it spiritual, call it something beyond verbal explanation, or my idea of an amalgamation of music with spiritualism/religion/inner peace, Anup Jalotaji's towering presence and soulful rendition made it look so beautiful; even the airwaves would have all nodded in agreement.

Its my turn now to extend that vocal beauty beyond all known physical boundaries and ensure that our production is something that will always make Anup Jalotaji (and Ram Shankarji) proud.

Cheers!

Anupji and Preets shine bright as ever as "Girdhar ke Rang" gets released.

2010-01-16T08:44:00.000-08:00

Hi LHSF mates,

After a hectic week, I'm back to give some more great (and very recent) news after Preeti Bhalla informed me about the music release of her album "Girdhar ke Rang" with music great Anup Jalotaji at ISKCON. The album, which is a compilation of Lord Krishn's bhajans is yet another feather in Preets cap.

She also appeared in Radio Mirchi with Jeeturaj this morning.
Great going Preets...uv made us proud...Hare Krishna...and here's wishing you more in the days to come!

And coming to Anup Jalotaji, we are indeed so previleged and honored to have him in LHSF...and why is that?...becoz Anupji has a prominent presence in LHSF actually...u'll believe it when u hear it...but hold on...be patient..there's still some time to go!

Cheers!

Doubts, challenges...even nasty remarks!....

2010-01-09T19:49:00.000-08:00

Hi all my LHSF dosts,

A very good Sunday morning...and as I grab by Nescafe (I had been having chai for the last few days, so the coffee-plunge for a change), I can feel the calm, health-giving morning air just prodding me to let all of you know that the musical journey so far has not been all hunky-dory as one may like to believe it!

From endless rounds of discussions to two trips to Gurgaon to hundreds of emails to non-stop telephonic calls, event management, budgetary expectations, media plans (admittedly a novice in this department), co-ordination with artists, GUINNESS BOOK of WORLD RECORDS (TM) to LIMCA Book of Records, the Indian Music Industry legal and regulatory requirements and I did not have a personal secretary either, it was anything but easy-going.

Not-to-forget an Indian mentality/psyche that can at times seem to not bat an eyelid or should I say isn't always so keen on innovation and all that 'raag'; but I don't blame anybody here as I'm kinda more used to it myself...being a desi guy. Are we bothered or flustered because we don't win Olympic medals?..we don't...right? We're a satisfied people with a rich culture and great traditions and despite all those MBA certifications/distinctions/Reid&Taylor outfits/Versace collections/iPhones etc., anything a bit too complex is best avoided...but then since I had a clear vision and an objective, which is all that is needed, the "LHSF mission", as I will fondly call it, was in an ALWAYS-ON mode.

There were instances where 'media plans' played spoilsport bigtime, even affecting relationships; this after I realized that today's media plans are all about 'control'; and hardly anything to do with publicity...or attention to details or sensitivities...but then, again no blaming anybody...as it is a market-reality with all activities being 'purely' commercial and too many people involved, with each of them having their own demands/expectations. There was an instance where I was at the receiving end too...when one of our prospective event managers remarked..."bheek mein de diya samajhle"...after I agreed to pay an advance of Rs.50,000/- only against a demand of Rs.75,000/- and they refused; subsequently, they backed out without notice during crunch time too during the first shoot stage, leaving me in the lurch...! But I ensured everything went smoothly as there were many friends to support me. In as much as I continue to respect them, it left a not-too-good impression!

However, I need to mention that from the media perspective, SCREEN magazine, Indiatimes.com, Zoom, Doordarshan, Saamna and Mid-Day were all very supportive and I thank them for the same.

More chatter later.

Cheers!

Let me get a bit technical...

2010-01-09T10:56:00.000-08:00

Hi LHSF friends,

As we start off on this amazing musical journey (even as a majority of the world will wake up to the reality of our musical concept only after the airwaves get swamped with our Audio and Video), I'd like to get a few facts straight...

WHY AM I DOING ALL THIS?

This question has been asked by many corporates, production firms, individuals, artists, friends, colleagues in my professional life, maybe even my pets!Eeyebrows have been raised, my purpose questioned and what not. But then all of them are justified in asking too. They're correct!

Why would a guy do something so big, with so many stars, a complex music project fraught with difficulties which no musician has even dared to venture into, least of all even thought about it? The LHSF music project also 'challenges' the existing theories and contemporary sound/music norms by presenting 333 singers in one song...when even 4-5 singers is considered more than just enough for a song?

And above all, what about his credentials as a Musician/Music Director/Writer? Agreed, he plays the Harmonium/Keyboard, knows Hindustani Classical and a thing or two about Carnatic music and he's a professional Editor as well, but then he's got just 1 release under his belt...the Kunal Ganjawala song - Taron Mein Chaand Ho Tum - The Musical..that plays as his Caller Tune in his mobile?

The answers are pretty simple, actually!

1. I LOVE MUSIC ... and this is not just the main reason BUT the main REASON(S) as well. Don't get confused; its just that I feel a sense of being incomplete if I say its just one reason. That one means more than just one:)...in much the same way as I admire Kumar Sanu(da)...the one-and-only megastar who understood my concept at a fundamental level on Day1 when I met him and the person who encouraged me go ahead full-on. Here I am:)...

Not to forget FLY KINGFISHER who also stood rock-solid behind me through the toughest times too!

Cheers!

Here's Sandeep, Shadab and Amey...

2010-01-09T08:49:00.000-08:00

Continuing from my previous post, where I did not wish to cram too many snaps of our REALITY SHOW stars together, here's presenting Amey Date and Sandeep Acharya and Shadab together.

Aren't things getting better and bigger?...but hey..hold on..we've got a long, long way to go mates! Howz that for a thought? Don't forget, we're all world record holders..ehh creators too:)..we're the FIRST to do it..aren't we????

Enjoy.

Cheers!

VOICE of INDIA...INDIAN IDOL..SAREGAMAPA...the winners are all in LHSF...check it out!

2010-01-09T07:58:00.000-08:00

LHSF mates,

Here's some more of exciting scoops..its all about WINNERS....and I'm sure I don't have to delve so deep to explain...we're anyways living in the age of 'REALITY SHOWS', aren't we?...of course, here we're more into Music shows...so when we speak of Amit Sana, Sandeep Acharya, Shadab, Rahul Shukla, Amey Date, Arshad, Rahul Mukherjee, Shayantini...they are all household names...television celebrities in their own right, and big winners too...after all, there's so much competition out there, which can at times get so tough, emotional and nerve-wracking...u gotta have nerves of steel..literally.

Here's presenting them...they're all there in LHSF....and ROCKING too...

Cheers!

Did you know about Dr. Ashok Chopra, Priyanka's Papa dear?...here's another noise byte!

2010-01-09T05:50:00.000-08:00

LHSF mates,

It's a Saturday and I thought its the right time to bring out some more interesting facts on our "first-in-the-world" music project.

We've all heard of the gorgeous Priyanka Chopra; but how many of you are aware that her father, Dr. Ashok Chopra, who is a Doctor by profession, is also a singer? Not many...yeah...!

Well, as soon as he heard about our Project, he made it a point to make his presence felt at SANA MW...and how! Very sporting and gentlemanly, encouraging (we are the first in the world to do it...after all!), bubbling with positive energy (now we know the secret behind Priyanka's 'cool' demeanor) and gung-ho about our music concept, Dr. Chopra rendered his portion with aplomb and a remarkable sense of ease!

It's time to see it to believe it. Take a look. Now that's we what we call...having a keen(er) eye for music.

Cheers!

Preeti too there....the next day!

2010-01-09T02:25:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Continuing from my previous post, incidentally, Preeti Bhalla too was in Coimbatore the next day for a Show. The show organizers informed me about her. I requested them to let me know when she arrived; which they did and I was able to speak with her...it was all Hi..n Hello..N LHSM noise bites...we also exchanged New Year greetings in advance...as she left for her show with our best wishes.

Here's a snap of Preets while she had been to SANA MW.

How can I forget my people?

Cheers!

Blessings from Guruji Shri Ravindra Jain...at Coimbatore airport!

2010-01-08T23:48:00.000-08:00

Hi LHSF mates,

Here is an interesting tit-bit of info:

During the last week of December, when I had been on my way to Kerala, I had a pleasant surprise in store for me. Guess what?

Guruji, Shri Ravindra Jain(ji), one of India's greatest musicians (remember all those Yesudas super-hits!) was on-board the same KINGFISHER Airlines flight to Coimbatore. I wasted no time to greet him and seek his blessings even as he was so delighted to see me.

As his face lighted, "Oh yes...woh KINGFISHER ka world record song..GUINNESS..aah!...SANA Music World!...hah..hah...kaise ho Krishna?...bahut khushi hui milke beta..." and we were talking all along as I answered his queries as we walked along the tarmac with his team and thereafter. I made sure I was with him till he left the Coimbatore airport for his show ... also conveyed my best wishes and thanks on behalf of LHSF participants and FLY KINGFISHER.

He also invited me for a 'live' show he was perorming in the evening for 'SANSKAR' channel.

Remember, Guruji himself had come to render his voice for our song..."Let's Have Some Fun..."...what more could I ask for?

Here are two exclusive pics for all of you when he had come over to record...

I gave him an update on the post-production work also...and will be meeting him personally in Mumbai soon too.

My happinness knew no bounds after this meeting - that too on a FLY KINGFISHER flight!...so I thought I'd share it with all of you.

Cheers!

AR Rehman Sir...Tujhe Salaam!...and a very Happy Birthday:)

2010-01-05T21:13:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody,

It's 6th January and for music lovers, I'd like to remind its a special, a very special day today and that's because it is AR Rehman Sir's birthday today.

He may well get the Knighthood in the near future so we can officially call him Sir AR Rehman, but then for us he has been a Sir, a Guru for such a long time that it just comes naturally to us...isn't it?

Here's wishing the great Indian music maestro a very Happy Birthday from all of us and of course a Happy New Year as well.

Cheers!

HAPPY NEW 2010

2010-01-03T03:06:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Here's wishing all LET'S HAVE SOME FUN' participants a VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR...

I have been receiving greetings from so many singers that it was difficult to respond to each and every sms; but I tried my best and made sure I sent my wishes to all; from Nagaraj in Bengaluru to Amit Sana in Mumbai to Shadab (who is with Shaan's team in AMUL Maha Muquabla) to Madhavi to Ravi Shukla (Voice of India)...it goes on and on:)

I also sent greetings to Kumar Sanuda, Bali Brahmbhatt and many other leading singers and to FLY KINGFISHER.

I realize there is a lot of hope riding on our Project and that many singers are egging me to make sure that 2010 is our year. As the post-production work is slated to re-commence after the 15th January, I won't be letting anybody down.

Cheers to all!

How it all started...

2009-12-25T14:19:00.000-08:00

Well, if there is one person whom all of us should give credit to, simply because he believed in innovation in music in much the same way as I did (even as I am actually an absolute nothing in front of this great achiever), he is Kumar Sanu, fondly called Sanuda.

And if there was one firm in the corporate world in India, which also shared our view of reaching for the top through innovation, and ably supported and believed in our pursuit of excellence, it was

FLY KINGFISHER.

And thanks to both of these '5-stars' in thier own way, as I'd deservedly call them, that is where it all started...

Why the delay...? Everybody is asking!

2009-12-25T13:05:00.000-08:00

Well guys, firstly, it's true that our World Record Music Project 'LET'S HAVE SOME FUN' has hit a roadblock. But why? After we nearly wrapped up the toughest task of recording, what happened? It's nearing three months...and still no news...I'm sure all of you must be wondering. And yes, I do have the answers!

Hi...Welcome and Greetings to all!

2009-12-24T21:36:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody,

Sorry to keep you all waiting...finally, we're up and running on Blogger now (for in-depth updates) and Twitter (for short updates)...so going forward, as we head into 2010, you will get to know all details, gossip, developments, fun-facts, not-so-fun facts, shocking news, records, incidents etc. on what's up with "LET'S HAVE SOME FUN".

I was constantly getting calls from so many keen participants and I thought how do I share what's going on at our end? Sanjeev (CEO- Jupiterindia) suggested I try Blogger.com and here I am. Did you know Sanjeev himself has sung in our track:)???

As the new year comes calling, here's looking forward to letting you know everything on "LET'S HAVE SOME FUN":)

And oh!...let me wish you all a Merry Christmas, and also be among the early birds to WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS 2010!

Enjoy and have lotsa fun.

Cheers,
TAK_DHINA_DHIN - the musiKman