Showing posts with label Indian Pro Music League 2021. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indian Pro Music League 2021. Show all posts
It’s disappointing to see people who once judged reality shows talk badly about them-Mika Singh
7:59 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; August 11, 2021)
Mika Singh’s team Punjab Lion won the reality show, Indian Pro Music League (IPML) recently. Talking about working during the Coronavirus pandemic, he says, “I was happy that we could resume work and sing again. Wapas kaam shuru hua, riyaaz karne aur musicians se interact karne ka mauka mila. While earlier the audience would watch us perform live, after we resumed the shoot, no one apart from the unit members could enter the set.”
He adds, “Main toh paida hi audience mein hua hoon. I have performed in over 25,000 shows in my career of 22 years. Jab audience saamne hoti hai mera toh ek mood banta hai gaana gaane ka. Toh aadat woh padi hui hai, aur mere gaane bhi phir saare naachnewale hain. However, given the restriction, I changed my strategy. I sang soft and melodious numbers. Our hard work bore fruit and we won on the show.”
While he enjoyed his stint on IPML, the singer says that he believes in taking a break from music reality shows to avoid overexposure. In his career, Mika has only judged only five shows.
He reasons, “I returned to judge a reality show after five years. I don’t want to be seen on TV regularly. We earn a lot of money through reality shows, but I also feel that your focus tends to shift from your first love — music. I feel that the audience gets bored of you eventually. If they are listening to you sing on a reality show, why will they wait for your song to be released? So, it’s imperative to take a break.”
Music reality shows have often been targeted for harping on contestants’ sob stories rather than focusing on their talent. Talking about it Mika says, “Look, people connect with such stories because all of us come across them in real life. The tears and emotions are genuine. It’s disappointing to see people who once judged reality shows talk badly about them today. They have also witnessed it during their seasons. Pichhle bees saal se chalta aa raha hai yeh rona dhona. It’s genuine and that’s why it is called reality. Problem ye hai ki jo log judge kar chuke hain aur dekha hai ye saara, aaj woh uske baare mein bol rahe hain. That’s wrong. Just because I am not approached to judge a reality show, I should not badmouth reality shows. Having said that, it’s the talent that takes you places.”
The new venture is called Kailash Kher Academy for Learning Arts Dham as it will be an abode for music folk-Kailash Kher
8:02 AM
Kailash Kher on the launch of his new venture, a space that will encourage and promote budding musicians
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; July 18, 2021)
Kailash Kher’s long-in-the-making dream project — a one-stop destination for musicians and music lovers — is finally taking shape. During the lockdown, he could give it undivided attention and finalise the nitty-gritties of the deal. “I had always visualised a space for established and budding musicians to come together. I wanted to provide a platform where they could interact, jam, and spread cheer through music,” says the singer, who is seen as a team captain on the reality show, Indian Pro Music League.
The centre will be an extension of the Kailash Kher Academy for Learning Arts (KKALA), which he had set up in 2019, to promote talent, as well as their non-film songs and compositions, through the Nayii Udaan shows.
Kher is calling his initiative, KKALA Dham, “as it will be an abode for music folk. I want to make it the ultimate place for all genres.”
Considering the prevailing scenario, he plans to follow a hybrid format, and will open the doors of KKALA Dham by December. Aiding Kher in his initiative will be members of his band, Kailasa, “who will look after the functioning of the centre.”
He aims to make the place an “adda for music people, just like Prithvi Theatre is the go-to place for theatre lovers”. Besides an auditorium, KKALA Dham will also house a small bookstore, cafe, and a baithak. “We want to make it a buzzing place for veterans and newcomers,” informs Kher, who feels it is important to extend a helping hand to those who want to make a mark in the music world. “You have to pause, acknowledge what you’ve achieved, and give back as gratitude.”
Kher’s latest composition, Ishq Toh Nahin, has been rendered by Rachit Agarwal, who is a contestant on Indian Pro Music League 2021. “It’s finale time, so I thought this was the best way to end by gifting him a track,” says Kher. “The show provides an opportunity for established names, who are team captains, to push and empower emerging talent.” He hopes that, like him, they strike a balance between working in Bollywood and the independent music space.
Unfortunately, physical appearance supersedes talent today on social media-Akriti Kakar
7:57 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; June 16, 2021)
Many celebrities have spoken about the pressures of being judged on social media for their looks, fashion choices and lifestyle. Singer Akriti Kakar couldn’t agree more. She says that even as a vocal artiste, she has been judged more for her looks than her talent. Akriti shares, “It was different when I first participated in the reality show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, but today, when a contestant is on stage, he is thinking about a lot of things other than singing — thoda sa aapne kuchh galat kar diya, aapka make-up ajeeb hai, lighting ajeeb hai, ya aapke kapde aise hain jo kisi ko pasand nahi aaye toh people troll you. Unfortunately, physical appearance supersedes talent nowadays on social media. In my case, just because I look a certain way, people have commented — without even hearing me — ki ye achha nahi gaati hogi. Well, if I look good, it’s because of my parents’ genes.”
The singer emphasises the importance of striking a balance between professional and personal life. “I can’t be constantly thinking about work. Music is my life, but my career isn’t. If I make my career my life, it will drive me crazy,” she says.
Akriti, who is currently a part of Indian Pro Music League 2021 (IPML), says that youngsters today are fortunate to have an opportunity to showcase their talent through these shows. “Reality shows today have so many budding singers and they should treat it as a learning experience. It’s amazing how they are getting a crash course on how to project their voice on the mic, how to sing and interact with the camera. They should absorb everything and use it to their advantage later. You can’t take it easy just because you are talented. At some point, you will have to ask for work and that doesn’t make you small. I ask for work even today,” she ends.
I’ve explored other genres, but people still associate me with love songs-Ankit Tiwari
7:59 AM
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; May 26, 2021)
Ankit Tiwari, popularly known as the Sunn Raha Hai Tu music composer and singer from Aashiqui 2, has struggled to make a name for himself in the music world. Post Aashiqui 2, Tiwari has been known for his love songs in films such as Ek Villain and Roy. He says, “If my name is associated with love songs, I am proud of it, because to get associated with a genre is an achievement in the Indian music world. Having said that, I do want to explore other genres and have around 100 different songs in my bank.”
He adds, “A few years ago, I sang a song called Dil Cheez Tujhe Dedi from Airlift, but people were not ready to believe that it was my composition. They felt it belonged to Pritam Chakraborty. It was much later that people realised that I had composed it. The image of being a composer of love songs has stuck and I am happy about it now.”
Ankit is currently seen as a mentor for one of the teams in the music reality show Indian Pro Music League. He says, “I am junior to all the singers, who are participating in the show. Kailash Kher, Shaan, Sajid Khan and Mika Singh are all my seniors and have done a huge amount of work on television. I can never compete with them. I am new in this arena and learning my way around here.”
Ankit also had a music band, which unfortunately had to split up due to the lockdown. He says, “We are living in very uncertain times. I had some talented musicians in my band, but they had to relocate to their hometowns because there was not much work happening due to the pandemic. We are hoping for things to get better soon. If you are alive and healthy, then I consider it a blessing during these times.”
Many people doubted my ability to carry the legacy forward after Wajid’s death-Sajid Khan
7:53 AM
Sajid Khan talks about flying solo for the first time as a music composer for Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai, after the demise of his brother and musical partner, Wajid last year
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; May 14, 2021)
He shares, “Many people doubted my ability to carry the legacy forward after Wajid’s death. There was a phase when even I felt that it was all over. I was confused and scared about the future. However, I realised that I can’t afford to slip as we had achieved success after a lot of hard work. The first step was to regain Salman bhai’s confidence, as we have had a long association with him.”
Sajid says, “Yes, I was apprehensive about my capabilities, but I feel Wajid’s presence all the time. He has made me more powerful than I ever was. Now, I am alone and lethal. I have become more passionate about my work.”
Radhe... is his first film as a solo composer. “I have composed two songs, out of which I’ve sung and penned one — the title track in this movie. Writing has come to me as a gift from God after he took Wajid away. Now, I am looking forward to composing an entire album. Wajid was more into melody, while my USP has been the rhythm and arrangement of a song. Lekin aaj mujhse kuchh aisa kaam nikal jaata hain, which surprises me as well,” Sajid shares, adding, “Salman bhai was so impressed with my singing that he has given me a song in his other film, Antim (being directed by Mahesh Manjrekar). I never thought that I could sing as I never liked my voice (laughs!). I was always a standby, but my brother has given me the power to take the legacy ahead.”
Sajid is also part of the Indian Pro Music League 2021 (IPML). Now that the shoot of the reality show has come to a halt due to the Coronavirus crisis in Maharashtra, does he miss it? “Of course, I do. Uss show ki energy hi alag hai. IPML has also given me a chance to restore people’s faith in me that I can make good music,” he replies.
I don’t want people to call me Sajid Khan, so I have adopted Wajid as my surname, says Sajid
8:05 AM
The composer talks about keeping his late brother Wajid’s legacy alive through his name
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; March 16, 2021)
Pointing out how some bonds transcend death, he shares, “We were three brothers — Wajid, Javed and I. When our father was unwell, he told us never to let anything come between us, and we have always followed that. We want to set an example of brotherhood. Today, a lot of importance is given to money, career and power. Siblings don’t meet each other and children don’t take care of their old parents. But, we are not like that. We are extremely attached to our families and our priority is to keep them happy. I was so close to Wajid that I met him in the ICU wearing the PPE kit much against everyone’s advice.”
Sajid says, “There came a point when I thought if I had to go, I would go with him, but not without seeing him or being by his side. It is extremely difficult to fill that void. After I lost him, I told Salman (Khan) bhai, ‘The day I feel I don’t have the fire in me, I will tell you that I am done.’ He has been a great support and saw me through the difficult phase. The confidence I feel today and the fire inside me is burning even more.”
On the work front, Sajid, who is one of the celebrity mentors on the Indian Pro Music League, says, “There are no newcomers on this show, every participant is a known face. Also, unlike other shows, the participants get to spend four days a week with their mentors. Basically, we groom these youngsters. This show has got a lot of glamour and is devoid of sob stories, which I think people have heard enough. That is what sets it apart.”
Talking about reality shows, we often see talented singers fading out without making a breakthrough. Sajid explains, “There are a lot of problems, especially with children’s reality shows. Parents leave their jobs to help their children become stars. And they are pampered to such an extent that it spoils them. Bachhe ko iss tarah se pamper kiya jaata hai ki aap usko maa baap bana dete hain aur khud bachche bann jaate hain.” He further elaborates, “They grow up too early and that’s not right. Unko kuchh zyada samjh di jaati hai reality ki, ki unki samajh mein itni saari cheezein ghus jaati hain ki unki life parr woh asar karta hai.”
I want to thank Salman Khan for being our pillar of strength, says composer Sajid Khan
8:11 AM
Composer Sajid on completing music for Radhe without Wajid
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; February 27, 2021)
Music composer Sajid Khan, of the Sajid-Wajid duo, makes his first solo outing with Indian Pro Music League after the untimely demise of brother Wajid Khan, last year. Featuring as captain of the Delhi Jammers team on the music reality show, the composer describes it as a programme that “infuses the competitive spirit and excitement of sports into music with six teams competing against each another”.
Teamed up with singers Neha Bhasin and Ankush Bhardwaj, Sajid hopes the two will help him own the title in the show. “Both [singers] are incredible. We don’t have a strategy per se, but we’ll take things as they come.”
While engrossed with the television commitment, Sajid is also creating music for Salman Khan’s magnum opus Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai, albeit without his brother. The sibling duo created many massy numbers for Khan’s films, Dabangg franchise, Jai Ho, Ek Tha Tiger among others. He says, “The soon-to-be launched album has some wonderful songs.”
Showering praise on Khan for time and again keeping faith in them, Sajid says, “I want to thank Salman for being our pillar of strength. He always called us tigers. He still says that I have my own strengths and that I should continue doing good work. Without his support, it would have been difficult for me.”
Sajid insists his music still be credited as composed by Sajid-Wajid. “Nobody can change that. In fact, I have been requesting people to address me as Sajid-Wajid. We always jammed together, and it hurts me to even think thats he is gone, but we’re fighters. I’ll always work hard to keep our name shining.”
Singer Shilpa Rao ties the knot with photographer Ritesh Krishnan
8:11 AM
Debarati Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; January 28, 2021)
Speaking exclusively to Bombay Times, Shilpa says, “Our parents are senior citizens and therefore we chose to do a simple registered wedding at home. We kept it simple, decorated the house with flowers and my brother’s wife did my mehendi. We formally registered the wedding at around 5pm, and all my friends and family members from across the world joined in on a video call to see the ceremony.”
Shilpa has always been private about her personal life, and not many knew about her relationship with Ritesh. Sharing details about how they met, she tells us, “We met three years ago on (music composer) Pritam’s USA tour. Ritesh seemed to be an affectionate person, and we started hanging out together. On the first day that I met him, I felt that he was a chilled out guy, which was very attractive for me. We started travelling together in 2018, and did many shows across India.”
Ask her about how Ritesh proposed to her and she elaborates, “In October 2019, we were at a monastery at the top of the mountains in Ladakh. Ritesh said, ‘Let’s get married’ and I said, ‘Yeah’. That was really a beautiful place to have this conversation. So, it wasn’t slipping a ring on my finger kind of a proposal or going down on one knee, but it was just being one with the world.”
Ritesh was apparently a fan of Shilpa’s earthy voice long before he had met her. She shares, “His friends told me that he was crazy about my song Manmarziyan from Lootera. He used to play it at every party on repeat mode. That is sort of our song now.”
Shilpa and Ritesh have a common passion for travelling, but they haven’t been doing much of that in the past one year. “We keep looking at our passports and feel sad sometimes. On February 2, I’ll start the shoot of Indian Pro Music League (IPML), which goes on till May, and post that we will probably travel in June.”
The singer, who is “really excited about the show”, says, “On the show, I am in the company of contemporary musicians who I have worked with and been inspired by. When I’d discussed the wedding with my IPML family, they were kicked about it. They were probably more happy and excited than I was, and once we start the shoot, we will have a party on the set. So, I am looking forward to that.”
Salman Khan flags off Indian Pro Music League
8:39 AM
Salman Khan, brand ambassador, Indian Pro Music League, with Ananya Birla (left), owner of team Bengal Tigers and (right) Akanksha Chaturvedi, owner of team UP Dabbangs
BOMBAY TIMES (January 16, 2021)
As India gets ready to welcome its first-ever music league with the Indian Pro Music League (IPML) this February, the makers have now announced an exciting addition to their already star-studded list of ambassadors — it’s none other than Salman Khan! He will be seen as the IPML Brand Ambassador on what is touted to be the biggest musical stage on television. The show, produced by Fathom Pictures, will be broadcast on Zee TV and Zee5.
The League will see six teams supported by Shraddha Kapoor, Govinda, Rajkummar Rao, Genelia and Riteish Deshmukh, Bobby Deol and Suresh Raina while Asees Kaur, Mika, Akriti Kakar, Shaan, Neha Bhasin, Sajid (of Sajid-Wajid), Shilpa Rao, Kailash Kher, Bhoomi Trivedi, Javed Ali, Payal Dev and Ankit Tiwari have been roped in as team captains.
Talking about this exciting collaboration, Salman Khan says, “I am passionate about music and excited about my association with IPML as it introduces new singers and gives them an opportunity to showcase their talent alongside India’s biggest playback singers, which is a first-of-its-kind concept.”
Bobby Deol to serve as the mascot of the Punjab Lions team in Indian Pro Music League
9:20 PM
Making his TV debut with music reality show, Bobby Deol says he'll encourage aspiring singers to battle for the title
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; December 25, 2020)
From going shirtless and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Salman Khan, to foraying into digital entertainment, Bobby Deol has been surprising the audience in his second innings. Naturally, his television debut couldn't have been far behind. The actor has been roped in for Indian Pro Music League, where he will serve as the mascot of the Punjab Lions team. The show, which also features Shraddha Kapoor, Govinda, Rajkummar Rao, Riteish Deshmukh and cricketer Suresh Raina as mascots, will see teams from different parts of the country battle it out for the title.
So, will we see Deol go behind the mic on the show? "I consider myself a bathroom singer. I wish I had pursued singing and painting. Forget picking up a mic or a paint brush, [I need to improve] my handwriting; it is worse than a doctor's prescription," he chuckles. As he will help his team members perform on the show, Deol hopes to develop a good ear for music. "There are many music reality shows on TV, but this is akin to a cricket or hockey league."
He recently shot for the promos of the reality show at Film City in Goregaon. "Everyone was tested for the Coronavirus, but the fear is that you don't know how you get it. That said, how long can you sit at home? So, you take the necessary precautions and shoot," says the actor, who has Love Hostel and Apne 2 in the pipeline.
Ankit Tiwari makes his television debut with Indian Pro Music League 2021
8:19 AM
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Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; November 15, 2020)
In the lieu of reality shows, Zee TV has announced a new show modelled on the Indian Premiere League, albeit for music lovers. First one to come on board, Ankit Tiwari makes his television debut with the show titled, Indian Pro Music League (IPML). "This will be my debut, and I am excited to be part of the new format," says the singer, who has been roped in as a captain to the contestants.
IPML will have six teams representing different regions of India, which will be owned by Shraddha Kapoor, Govinda, Rajkummar Rao, and Riteish Deshmukh among others. Each team will be captained by two playback singers. Following the format of a sports league, the show will have five innings where audience votes and umpire points will decide one of the teams as the league champions.
Despite the popularity of traditional shows like Indian Idol and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, Tiwari isn't bothered by the comparisons. "There is no comparison as even the performance formats will be different. It stands apart from all other reality shows," says the singer, adding that he is in prep mode. "I have a lot to prepare before I join the team as a captain."
Team Govinda, Team Shraddha Kapoor, Team Rajkummar Rao & Team Riteish-Genelia to compete in Indian Pro Music League
8:06 AM
Teams owned by Govinda and wife Sunita, Shraddha Kapoor, dad Shakti, brother Siddhanth, Rajkummar Rao and the Deshmukhs, Riteish & Genelia, amongst others will compete with each other in a musical championship
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 12, 2020)
Zee TV, which has successfully launched musical talents like Shreya Ghoshal through its talent hunt show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, which completed 25 years in 2020, is gearing up to bring the country’s first Indian Pro Music League in 2021. The format will have six teams owned by Bollywood A-listers and their families, including Govinda and wife Sunita, Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor with father Shakti and brother Siddhanth Kapoor and Riteish Deshmukh and wife Genelia, representing different regions of India, while facing off each other in a musical championship.
The channel will soon start scouting talent from across the country to give them a platform to hone their talent and compete with and against the best of the best from the Indian music industry. The show promises to be a celebration of Indian music.
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