GOWRI MANICKAVASAGAM
As we collectively work towards emerging from the grips of the worldwide pandemic, Zee TV – India’s leading Hindi general entertainment channel recognises the amazing power of music in uniting, healing and uplifting the mood of the nation. Ever since its inception 25 years ago, the channel’s longest-running non-fiction franchise – Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa has leveraged this power of music in helping the common man rise above his circumstances – giving him the country’s most definitive platform to showcase his singing talent. It is only befitting, then, that with Sa Re Ga Ma Pa crossing its 25-year milestone in 2020, Zee TV is coming up with an industry-first initiative, Ek Desh Ek Raag, a fund-raising concert to help humanity cope better with the testing times through the power of music. ‘Ek Desh Ek Raag’ will start on May 23 with a 25-hour Music Marathon on digital. The 25 Year milestone will culminate in a grand ‘Ek Desh Ek Raag’ concert on May 24 at 7 pm onwards in 10 national languages across 19 ZEE channels with the most iconic faces of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa singing from the confines of their homes.
While various top artists like Himesh Reshammiya, Shaan, Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik, Jawed Ali, Richa Sharma are coming together for this noble initiative, India’s favourite Zee TV bahus will also be seen engaging in an exciting round of Antakshari. The sophisticated Guddan (played by Kanika Mann), the cute Kalyani (played by Reem Sheikh) and the glamorous Preeta (played by Shraddha Arya) will battle it out in this game of songs which will be moderated by everyone’s favourite TV show host-turned-film actor – Jay Bhanushali. This first-of-its-kind singing battle between the fiction leads is sure to captivate the audience and leave them exhilarated. With Jay hosting the segment, we are sure everyone is in for a good time. The fun-filled round of Antakshari is sure to make the audiences want to sing along with their favourite TV bahus from the comfort of their homes.
The Antakshri segment will see Kundali Bhagya’s Preeta dedicate a song to Karan (played by Dheeraj Dhoopar), while Guddan will be seen lamenting the lockdown as she misses Akshat’s (played by Nishant Singh Malkani) handmade pasta. Kalyani, apparently, also confessed how she misses shooting with Malhar (played by Sehban Azim). All three ladies have sung some fantastic songs while participating in this lockdown Antakshri – from ‘Kehte Hain Khud Ne’ to ‘Neele Neele Ambar Par’ and ‘Imli Ka Butta’. Catch these beauties singing and shooting for their loyal audiences from the confines of their living rooms!
An elated Kanika Mann aka Guddan from Zee TV’s Guddan Tumse Na Ho Payega shared, “It is a very big deal for me, getting to be a part of the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa legacy. My family and I have followed the show since my childhood and it is an iconic platform where new talent is discovered. The show stepping into the 25-year milestone deserves to be celebrated with grandeur and being a part of the Zee TV family, I am glad and extremely excited to be a part of this celebration through this first-of-its-kind initiative, Ek Desh Ek Raag, that will surely uplift everyone’s mood during this testing period. I am even more thrilled for playing my favourite game of Antakshari and I hope all my home-bound fans sing along with me when I sing on the screen. I have sung some really interesting songs and I hope everyone enjoys this segment.”
Reem Shaikh aka Kalyani from Zee TV’s Tujhse Hai Raabta also added, “I have passionately followed Sa Re Ga Ma Pa over the years like everyone else and I’m a huge fan of this iconic show where singing stars are born. I love how this platform has made dreams come true for so many talented people and I’m looking forward to this extraordinarily fun segment of Antakshari during Ek Desh Ek Raag. I’m happy I can celebrate the 25th anniversary of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa by being a part of this fund-raising concert that endeavours to heal humanity with the power of music. But the best part is that I will be joined by my fellow Zee TV bahus and we will be playing a fun game of Antakshari. It will be a great collaboration with these two wonderful women and you will see us sing some incredible songs.”
Shraddha Arya a.k.a Preeta from Zee TV’s Kundali Bhagya shared, “Reem, Kanika and I never get to spend a lot of time together due to our busy work schedules, we just meet at parties or award functions. But being able to come together for this unbelievably wonderful initiative marking the 25th anniversary of the iconic Sa Re Ga Ma Pa seems surreal. I can already say that we are going to have a blast and I will enjoy battling against these two delightful ladies in a fun-filled game of Antakshari. This is one of the most thrilling activities I’ll indulge in during the lockdown and I cannot wait to catch up with my favourite Zee TV bahus and with Jay Bhanushali moderating the segment, I am looking forward to it even more.”
