Sonu Nigam to collaborate with Siddiqi for International Tours ....

HOUSTON: Storied, award-winning ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas performed to capacity crowds at two concerts in this city on April 7 and April 12 at the New Stafford Center on Cash Road. The world-renowned vocalist proved that he was still on top of his game as he held fans enthralled with his melodious voice, with many enthusiastically singing along with the maestro as he rendered his repertoire of hits that included Chitti aayi hai, Chandi jaisa rang, Ghunguroo toot gaye, Sharab cheez hi ayse hai, and App jinke qareeb hote hai. Brought to Houston by young impresario Rehan Siddiqi, the first concert was a sold-out show, with fans demanding for an encore presentation. Siddiqi complied and arranged with the international promoter of Udhas’s World Tour 2012, Mayur Ganger, for the musician to perform here again. Both shows drew record audiences and the attention of Udhas who praised and thanked Siddiqi lavishly and lauded him for his creativity, hard work, and professionalism. While in this city, Udhas also made appearances at Bombay Sweets and Maharani Music Store on Hillcroft and Harwin to meet with fans, untiringly signing autographs and posing for pictures with each and everyone that requested. He, along with his entourage, also dined at Shahnaz Irani’s Nizam’s Kitchen after the first concert. Set against a backdrop designed meticulously by DB Event Planners, the concert started (almost) on time. Warm and personable, Udhas easily established a rapport with the audience. He has won the respect of his peers for helping make ghazals du jour at a time when it was losing its foothold to westernized Indian music. Udhas’s odyssey to success started at the tender age of five when he realized his ability to sing. But it was only after his first stage performance when he sang Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon and won a prize of Rs. 51 that he made a firm decision to take up music professionally. He began studying Hindustani classical music and then decided to break into the film industry. Once Pankaj heard his brother Manhar’s Urdu teacher listen to Mehdi Hassan and Begum Akhtar. So much was he attracted to this form of music that he went on to learn Urdu to be able to grasp the nuances of ghazals. And the rest, as they would say, is history. Siddiqi has successfully promoted and hosted big name stars such as Sonu Nigam, Atif Aslam, Sunidhi Chauhan, Sukwinder Singh, Anu Malik, and Ali Zafar. He has brought Rahat Fateh Ali Khan to this city on trip concert tours on three occasions and drew over 8,000 attendees at the Reliant Arena in 2011. Siddiqi also runs the largest desi radio network in this city called HumTum Radio 24/7 on 1480AM. He also broadcasts simultaneously on 1110AM Saturdays and Sundays. “Promoting good music through great artistes is truly a blessing,” said Siddiqi. “With the right ambiance, quality sound and light, they are bound to put forward inspired performances. To me, that it the only way to show due respect to the artiste and the audience,” he added. Riding on the successes of Pankaj Udhas’s record-breaking concerts, Siddiqi announced upcoming performances by Kailash Kher, Sonu Nigam, Sabri Brothers and Amanat Ali in weeks and months to come. He is also planning a major international tour in 2013 with Bollywood celebrities. Over 25 corporate companies were instrumental in supporting Siddiqi’s endeavor. His able team professionally managed logistics such as behind-the-scenes hospitality and security.  Technical Director of Hum Tum Shows Arif Memon and Hum Tum Show’s Director of Operations Carlos Carmona ironed out any possible kinks and the show ran smoothly. Participating restaurants included Nizam’s Kitchen and Durrani’s Restaurant.

Sonu Nigam sings for Anti - Piracy Anthem ....

For the first time ever in India, six leading artists Sonu Nigam, Mohit Chauhan, Shaan, Shankar Mahadevan, Kailash Kher and Sunidhi Chauhan have come together to create an anti-piracy anthem. Titled Salaami Ho Jaye, it is intended to create a positive counterpoint to the menace of online piracy by focussing on celebrating great Indian music artists and their work. The multi-singer/collaborative song - a one-of-a-kind initiative — is conceived and composed by noted composer Shamir Tandon, who has famous soundtracks like Page 3 and over 150 advertising jingles to his credit.

Sonu Nigam puts a spellbound show....

The expectations were very high from an artist of his calibre and he proved his mettle. Sonu Nigam enthralled the audiences with his romantic hits. With a huge library of work behind him, it was not a tough task to pick up some hits. After an initial lull, since he came in late, Sonu came and started the show with a bang. The audience took a while to liven up, but he made sure people hummed along with him. An then he sttood continuously for three hours, without a break. It was worth every penny. Full marks to SS Telefilms, Gopal Bhatia and their team for putting a great show, well produced. After a long time or maybe for the first time, could we see such good projection, and audio-visual mixing. The production took the show to a whole new level. Even the sound was fantastic and was apt for the venue. Kudos to the technical team too. Shane Sohail, the promoter of the show, said that Sonu loved performing in Auckland in front of his fans and that he has promised to come back again. Well, we hope that happens and next time the promoters may have to book a bigger venue to contain the crowd ... Vector Arena perhaps?

Sonu Nigam performs with heavily bandaged nose ...

After sporting schoolgirl ponytails and Aladdin pants at various events, Sonu Nigam is back with a new look. This time, with a heavily bandaged nose! No, it is not one of his sartorial misadventures. The singer accidentally injured his nose in the middle of the night. So much so that he was forced to perform at a recent event with a bandage right across his face.
The incident took place in a hotel where Sonu was staying at before a show in Auckland the following evening. “Sonu woke up the other night to go to the washroom. As he was sleepy, he unfortunately, banged his nose into a glass door, injuring it badly,” says our source, adding that the badly bleeding injury forced him to seek immediate treatment from a local doctor.
Since he was scheduled to perform the following evening, the singer didn’t want to cancel the event. “The tickets were all sold and it was too late and also not right to call off the show. So he decided to go ahead on the stage with a bandaged nose. Of course, before he appeared, it was announced that he had an accident the previous night,” the source adds.
Clocking air miles
Incidentally, the accident is being attributed to the singer’s frequent travel across the globe. “Since early last month, Sonu has been travelling. And he hasn’t been staying at any place for more than two days.
The hectic schedule as caused jetlag, which must have really exhausted him that day. Maybe that’s why he couldn’t figure out that it was a glass door that he was walking into,” concluded our source.
While the ace singer was unavailable for comment, his business manager confirmed the news saying, “Sonu was very tired and totally worn out due to the travel. As a result of which he ended up slamming his nose on the glass door in the night, barely 12 hours before he was to perform for the Auckland show. We had to use bandage and some make-up on the nose.”

Naz Choudhary speaks on the upcoming Dhamaka 2012 ....

Coming up on the 22nd of April at the world famous O2 in London is a concert not to be missed. Dhamaka brings together for the first time ever singers Sonu Niigaam and Atif Aslam in a concert that is set to captivate music lovers the world over. Naz Choudhury, a dancer and businessman and the brains behind this historic event, speaks to Stacey Yount about the Road to Dhamaka. What is Dhamaka? I created Dhamaka because I wanted to do something that people would remember and everyone will relate to. The name came to me when I was thinking that I wanted to do an explosive mega concert and hence the name ‘Dhamaka’, which means just that – ‘explosion’. The O2 is the world’s most famous venue – an ambitious choice? I wanted to play the O2 because it’s an emerald of a venue in the UK and world renowned. Most shows take place in the West of London and I really wanted to bring something to the East End, back to my roots. I also want to show people a new venue, especially as it’s the world’s number venue for music. You’re not even 30 yet and you’re already making history, bringing India and Pakistan together, musically? I wanted to make history and I wanted to make a show that even I would want to attend if I wasn’t creating it. Sonu Niigaam and Atif Aslam coming together does just that. The vision is to make Dhamaka an iconic movement, that will symbolise togetherness and multiculturalism in the UK. I want to make Dhamaka the Glastonbury of Bollywood in the UK and from here it will only get bigger, because I want to give people memories they will cherish for years to come. It’s Olympic year in London and Dhamaka is the grand finale of a fleet of concerts in April… I wanted to give Asians a show they will treasure, I want to symbolise the Olympic year in a way we will remember. I aim to take the legacy of my company, Flex FX forward, and it doesn’t get bigger than the O2, because even as a dancer myself, to a choreographer to a director and now a producer, The O2 is the only venue in the UK that I haven’t performed at. You challenged one of UK’s top shows on the BBC, Dragon’s Den about their rejection and took the high road… After Dragon’s Den, I nationally declared I will do it, I believe in my legacy and I will make it happen and from there I set my targets and just went for it. Let’s see now, as this is the final chapter, because everything else I said on the show I have done. Dhamaka is the last chapter to close that book and say I told you so. I had my investors within a week after Dragons’ Den, but timing was everything and for me, and so was this Olympic year, 2012. Dhamaka is only the 2nd Asian musical event at the O2 – why is this? The O2 has only had two Bollywood events since it officially opened – the Unforgettable Tour with the Bachchan family in 2008, and the AR Rahman show in 2010. Since than there was a drop of Asian shows coming to the O2. Although this is a venue that sells out every night, it still hasn’t attracted the eye for the Asian public. The team at The O2 are very proud to host Dhamaka and are really excited about the stars and the calibre of talent we are bringing to the one night extravaganza. How did Atif Aslam, one of Pakistan’s biggest names, get on the road to Dhamaka? Atif Aslam stole the show in 2007 in Royal Albert Hall, and he was truly amazing. In 2012, he will be bringing all his hit numbers and tributes. The way he encourages the crowd and gets them involved is phenomenal. I am expecting Atif Aslam to give the performance of his life at Dhamaka 2012, because he is a gifted rock-star, and will perform alongside a musical legend. I’m expecting him to get the audience on their feet and shake the O2. Sonu Niigaam is one of the biggest names in music – how did he get on the road to Dhamaka? Sonu Niigaam he needs no introduction, the word legend is the only one that comes to mind. Expect him to be very entertaining and he will perform all his major hits, that will take you through his years of consistent Bollywood hits. His presence, his versatility and variety is beyond imagination. Expect the unexpected with Sonu Niigaam. I haven’t worked with him before, but one thing I know is that while I was in India signing stars for Dhamaka, every celebrity, singer and performer I met, recommended Sonu Niigaam, as the best performer in India. I had absolutely no doubt that he deserves the O2 Arena. Why did you take the reigns to produce Dhamaka back in 2007 and now again in 2012? Dhamaka 2007 was commissioned by the European Union, as from 2004 to 2009, Flex FX was a non-for-profit organisation and was government funded to mainstream local young people from the UK. Dhamaka started out as a way I brought all the promoters, media and public together and made them aware of my dance company and the talents I have have nurtured, but along the way, it grew from 2004 in Logan hall with Raghav, to 2007 with Atif Aslam and Jay Sean in Royal Albert Hall, to this day at The O2. Tell us about the pricing of the tickets – seems you’re going the way Prince did, with his series of shows at the O2? I wanted to start tickets at £25 because I wanted people to see two world class performers for the price of one. I want to introduce a venue that many have never seen. Flex FX and Dhamaka was never a money making entity, which is what the Dragons’ Den people from BBC failed to understand. It’s about passion, legacy and making those memories that everyone can become a part of. Who are Flex FX? Over the years Flex FX has created, hosted and performed in the biggest Bollywood events in the UK. Now my dance group, Bolly Flex, is internationally renowned for their spectacular talent in Bollywood dance. My main goal was to make people aware that I am an artist first, and then a music promoter. Sonu and Atif know this, which is why they are both really excited to work with me and I’m really honoured by their support. Flex FX has just gone strength to strength over the years, and I am really grateful to all our fans, supporters and everyone who has made this happen for me and for us as a team. I also have to give a special mention to my entire team, especially Syed, Tanya, Hassan, Shahin, Rima, Koyes and AO. Keep up the great work.