Personal tragedy slams brake on Amit Trivedi's turn at upcoming Bollywood music festival; composer duo replace him at the last minute
Soumya Vajpayee Tiwari (MID-DAY; September 30, 2016)

The Bollywood music industry may be highly competitive, but friendship beats all odds. In a generous display of camaraderie, Vishal-Shekhar are putting away personal commitments for another composer. Just a few days prior to two-day festival, Bollywood Music Project (BMP) where he was scheduled to perform, Trivedi faced a setback. The composer-singer's father passed away on September 27 following a battle with brain tumour.

With just two days to go for the festival slated for September 30 and October 1 at Jio Garden, BKC, he couldn't let the organisers on the tenterhooks by backing out. Trivedi requested friends Vishal-Shekhar to step in at the last minute, and they accepted.

"Following his father's demise, Amit asked us to step in as the organisers were in a bit of a spot. We are all friends and colleagues, so we are glad to be able to help," says Shekhar.

The duo is putting together a new set for their performance at the festival, which is touted to be Asia's largest multi-genre Bollywood music festival.

Deepak Choudhary, founder and director, Event Capital, one of the organisers of the event, says, "Vishal and Shekhar are now part of BMP's line-up. Our deepest condolences to Amit's family."

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 19, 2016)

At her debut gig at the Bollywood Music Project to be held at Jio Garden in BKC between September 30 and October 1, Sonakshi Sinha will rap for the first time. “I have always dreamt of singing at a concert and fans chanting my name. It’s great that we finally have something like Bollywood Music Project. There are a lot of music festivals, but none are dedicated to Hindi films.”

The organisers are yet to zero in on an international lyricist. Sources tell us that she will be dressed in complete rock gear during her 40-minute-song-and-dance act. She will jam with composer duo Vishal-Shekhar, and singer Arijit Singh.

It will be a mixed Sufi, indi and acoustic vibe at the fest that is touted to be Asia’s largest multi-genre music festival. Over two days, 70 big league artistes including singers Papon, Rekha Bhardwaj, Amit Trivedi, Sachin-Jigar, Divya Kumar, Mohammed Irfan, Baadshah and composer duo Sajid-Wajid will also pay a special tribute to SD Burman that will be arranged by music composer Shashi Suman.

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 14, 2016)

Farhan Akhtar rocks on, both in real life and reel... So does Priyanka Chopra who wowed everyone with her crooning at a recent award ceremony in Spain... And now, Sonakshi Sinha is gearing up to sing 'live' before a packed audience at a music fest in Mumbai later this month. On her list are several chartbusters, including her 2015 debut single "Ishqholic", "Joganiyan" from Tevar, and "Rajj Rajj Ke" from the recently released Akira.

"Yes, I'm singing many of my favourite songs and not just recent chartbusters. I will go back in time and sing a couple of songs I'd loved while growing up too," informs the 29-year-old actress who has begun prepping up for her 40-minute act which will see her in a rock star avatar.

She admits she's really excited and had always imagined herself at her own concert or singing on stage. She sang live at an awards ceremony two years ago and describes the experience as "exhilarating". "I was craving to experience the feeling again and I am so glad that it's happening with the Bollywood Music Project and I can't wait to go on that stage," exults the actress who will be joining singers like Amit Trivedi, Arijit Singh, Hard Kaur, Badshah, Rekha Bharadwaj, Papon, Sajid Wajid and Hariharan among others.

Sonakshi who released her debut single "Ishqholic" last year and sang "Rajj Rajj Ke" recently, admits that she is working on her next single and will probably give playback for another film. "I'm in a position today where I can make all my dreams come true and this is one of them. I love to sing," beams Sonakshi who will be seen next in Sunhil Sippy's Noor and Abhay Chopra's Ittefaq remake, with Sidharth Malhotra.

Sonakshi's contemporaries like Priyanka Chopra and Alia Bhatt too have lent their voice to several tracks in the past and she likes both their voices. "Priyanka sounds so husky when she sings and even Alia's voice has a great texture. Her "Ikk kudi" (from Udta Punjab) is one of my favourite songs," she reveals, adding that she also likes Rekha Bhardwaj, Sona Mohapatra and Kanika Kapoor and given an opportunity, she would want to collaborate with these singers.

"If you get the drift, I love people with unconventional and textured voices as it just makes them so unique. If I got a chance I would love to collaborate with Rekhaji and do a mix of a sufi and rock song with her," she concludes.