Category: World Service
Date: 26.09.2005
Printable version
India's favourite singer, Shubha Mudgal, has praised the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's upcoming live linkup tomorrow (Tuesday 27 September) between Mumbai and Karachi.
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She will perform from Mumbai while Pakistan's Abida Parveen will join in from Karachi.
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Speaking to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ about the joint Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Hindi and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Urdu event, Shubha Mudgal expressed strong belief that the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ initiative will be "effective".
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She said:
"It is difficult to say how many hearts will change after this programme or how easy it will become to go across the borders for the citizens of both sides, but when a credible and prestigious organisation like the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is taking this initiative, it will turn effective, I believe so."
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Shubha Mudgal also commended the role of people in the arts who are maintaining the cultural exchange between the two nations and upholding the shared heritage.
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She said: "Poets from both sides have worked as cultural ambassadors. So what, if the political relations turn bad, people will continue to listen to each other.
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"It doesn't matter if the singer is from India, Pakistan, Afganistan, Iran etc, the main thing is how and what he/she is singing. People clap, appreciate and love their music."
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Referring to her personal experience of crossing the borders between the two countries, Shubha Mudgal said: "Those who are doing well have fans all over the world.
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"The music lovers of India have always appreciated the singers of the other side. It was never said that Indians would not listen to a musician because he/she is from Pakistan."
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Shubha Mudgal also emphasised the relevance to her of the lyrics by poets like Kabir and Faiz: "No one has the right to say that, because Faiz was a Pakistani poet, therefore an Indian artist Shubha Mudgal can't sing his Gazals. He himself had said, 'Bol ke lab Aazaad hein tere' (Speak, as your lips are free).
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"I will sing some great poems by Kabir, Faiz Ahmed Faiz. We have chosen the poems which reflect the message of peace and harmony.
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"The voice of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is a very strong medium. The decision to organise this programme itself spreads a big message among the people."
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On Tuesday 27 September, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Hindi and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Urdu services will stage a live linkup between Mumbai and Karachi with performances, an invited panel debating the role of arts and music to bridge the two nations, and a studio audience.
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In India, the panel will be represented by actress Kiron Kher, film director Govind Nihalani and writer and poet Javed Akhtar.
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The panellists in Pakistan include writers Anwer Maqsood and Noorul Huda Shah, and TV playwright and columnist Shoaib Hashmi.
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Anchored by Head of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Hindi, Achala Sharma, in Mumbai and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Urdu service's veteran reporter, Zaffar Abbas, in Karachi, the event will be broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Hindi and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Urdu radio.
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Audiences in India, Pakistan and around the world will also have the opportunity to voice their views and follow the proceedings via webcasts on bbchindi.com and bbcurdu.com.
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The joint Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Hindi and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Urdu event is part of the Who Runs Your World? season - the biggest ever single-themed tri-media season of programmes of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's international news division exploring different aspects of global power.
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The live broadcast takes place from 20.00 to 22.00 IST, 19.30 to 21.30 Pakistan Time.
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It will be also broadcast live on Aaj satellite TV and Mast FM in four cities in Pakistan and on GO FM in Mumbai.
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