Bollywood music industry’s stars -- composer Anu Malik, singer Sadhna Sargam and Ashok Takharya --- on Sunday praised the fresh singing talent of the Valley.
Judging participants at the finale of a singing competition, ‘Choona Hai Aasman’, organised by Jammu and Kasmir Police at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre, Malik predicted rise of the Valley in the Bollywood.
“There is no dearth of talent in Kashmir. It amazing to listen to the melodious voices from young talented boys and girls here,” said Malik.
The two decades of militancy has created a wedge between people and police here. Street protests by youngsters and civilian casualties further deepened it in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
To bridge the gap, the police in the past three years are engaging youth across the Valley in sports and musical competitions.
“Jammu and Kashmir Police has done a fantastic job. I have come here on their invitation. Some of the voices I heard are very good. We have fantastic talent,” said Malik.
The Bollywood icons also praised chief minister Omar Abdullah. “Who says heart beats after coming across something fantastic, I say that that my heart didn’t beat but it almost stopped while having a glimpse of famous Dal Lake and Shalimar Gardens. Creator has drawn the sketch of the land by His own hands,” said singer Sargam.
Malik added to her saying “He will ask everyone to visit the glorious Srinagar city and enjoy strolls in famous Mughal gardens.”
Union minister for new and renewable energy Farooq Abdullah, present on the occasion, could not stop himself from singing the Bollywood number “Lagja Galay ki phir ye hasin raat ho na ho…”.
Malik added to her saying “He will ask everyone to visit the glorious Srinagar city and enjoy strolls in famous Mughal gardens.”
Union minister for new and renewable energy Farooq Abdullah, present on the occasion, could not stop himself from singing the Bollywood number “Lagja Galay ki phir ye hasin raat ho na ho…”.
The musical talent show has come in a year when a teenage rockband group, Pargaash, shelved their plans to pursue music after online hate messages snowballed into a major controversy.