After AR Rahman, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Euphoria did their bit for sports in India by composing high-energy, motivational anthems, it’s now time for amateur bands to take to the mic. Financial company Moneygram organised a Cricket For Peace contest, through which they auditioned 300 bands from India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. They finally selected 11 vocalists to collaborate on one track called Cricket for peace…
Composed by music director Nishit Mehta, the four-minute song is sung in Hindi, English, Bangla and Sinhalese. The 11 singers from across the subcontinent met in Mumbai earlier this week to record the single, and they will be perform today at Nariman Point. The group will also shoot a music video in the city, later this week.
Love of the game Of diverse musical backgrounds, it’s the singers love for the game that got them to participate. Twenty-four-year-old Amit Sivashanm-ugam from Chennai says it is all about cricket. “I have been watching the sport ever since I was a child, so when I heard of the contest, I instantly registered. I never expected to win, but now that I am here, it is great to meet other cricket fans and sing along,” he says.
Same goes for 47-year-old Lenny, who flew in from Colombo. “My band, Highways, auditioned for the competition. I used to play cricket as a child, and follow the matches. Sri Lanka loves the sport,” says Lenny, whose countrymen, 26-year-old Damien Fernando, 21-year-old Shehan Wanigasekera and 24-year-old Dilan Kayakody, explain how the sport is a rave in their nation. “We watched the major matches of the cricket World Cup in a rugby stadium. The whole nation was in a festive mood and everybody went on a holiday,” says Kayakody. Moving east, Dhaka’s 27-year-old Kazi Nowrid Amin and 22-year-old Rabiul Awal explain how Bangladesh has always been a cricket-crazy nation. “We even watch all the IPL games very closely. It’s so infectious, whether you like the game or not, you can’t escape it in Dhaka,” says Rabiul.
{{/usCountry}}Same goes for 47-year-old Lenny, who flew in from Colombo. “My band, Highways, auditioned for the competition. I used to play cricket as a child, and follow the matches. Sri Lanka loves the sport,” says Lenny, whose countrymen, 26-year-old Damien Fernando, 21-year-old Shehan Wanigasekera and 24-year-old Dilan Kayakody, explain how the sport is a rave in their nation. “We watched the major matches of the cricket World Cup in a rugby stadium. The whole nation was in a festive mood and everybody went on a holiday,” says Kayakody. Moving east, Dhaka’s 27-year-old Kazi Nowrid Amin and 22-year-old Rabiul Awal explain how Bangladesh has always been a cricket-crazy nation. “We even watch all the IPL games very closely. It’s so infectious, whether you like the game or not, you can’t escape it in Dhaka,” says Rabiul.
{{/usCountry}}Key notes While their love for the sport got them all on common ground, the artistes feel this is a great way to showcase their talent. “All of us are members of bands with whom we regularly perform. We see this as a great way to bring our music to the fore,” says Amit, who describes that the song will be on an album with the same moniker, Cricket For Peace, and will also have 11 songs composed by their individual bands on the same sport.
“During the auditions, we were all told to compose a song around cricket. At our live performances in our respective cities, the songs were recorded live to be put on the album,” adds Jigar from Ahmedabad.
Catch The Tri-nation band perform at YB Chavan Hall, Nariman Point, 12 pm. Call 22045460 for details.
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