ASIA SCENE: Neha the rock star to perform for us in March

The month of March is just around the corner to spice up the musical taste of Kenyan fans of Bollywood music and provide an opportunity to swing to the beat of popular songs sweetened with anglicised Punjabi lyrical portions.

Yes, it is time to rock to the tunes of one of the most glamorous croon queen of Bollywood — Neha Kakkar, who is scheduled to perform live in a concert at Diamond Plaza II on March 9.

Neha Kakkar, the young glamour queen of the Indian music industry who started out as a participant and winner of a TV singing reality show to become a sensational star with the release of her album Neha, The Rock Star, comes to our city.

The show is presented by Alishaan Entertainment and Events Limited. Neha, with songs like Jadoo Ki Jhaphi (magical hug), Kala Chashma, Sunny Sunny, London Thumka and Kar Gayee Chull, has captured the heart and musical imagination of a legion of lovers of this genre of peppy music.

Her contributions with title songs for TV serials like Na Aaana Is Desh Laado have been applauded. Besides singing, Neha is often invited to be a co-judge for Indian reality TV singing shows like Sa Re Gama Pa Lil Champs and Indian Idol.

Early in her singing career, the young crooner released a song about Bollywood super star Shahrukh Khan on You Tube. The number became a phenomenal success and went on to be referred to as SRK Anthem. Neha’s sibling Tony Kakkar is a known music composer and great inspiration for his sister.

Tickets for Neha’s musical concert of our times can be obtained from Healthy U Sarit Centre. For further details, readers can contact 0733850421.

And the legendary ghazal singer and composer Jagjit Singh, now in his heavenly abode, would be delighted to know that his fans in Kenya — the country he visited and performed in several times during his lifetime, still love and cherish his memory and adore his musical legacy.

Navrang Fine Arts Foundation paid a glowing and entertaining tribute to the ghazal legend last Sunday at Oshwal Centre Auditorium, Westlands.

Gayatri Asokan, hailed as the New Age Ghazal singer, together with her talented musicians from India, quenched the thirst of an appreciative audience by singing and displaying a collage of the late maestro’s romantic ghazals and songs.

The fans cherished the opportunity to relive fond memories of the iconic singer’s concerts on our stage in days gone by. Gayatri is not unknown to us — her Hazaron Khwahishein at the same venue captured the heartbeats of music lovers last year.

Navrang’s tribute to the maestro is yet another milestone the Foundation has conquered in its service to keeping alive the traditional culture of Indian music and dance in Kenya.