Taking music to new heights with young singing sensations

Youngsters nowadays are miles ahead when it comes to voicing their opinions and thoughts. In a bid to give voice to their views, a group of children have come together to recreate the 90s music into a heady mix more suited to present preferences through the hugely popular hit ‘Dil Toh Pagal Hai.’

The initiative is a brainchild of Brooke Bond Red Label tea and Y¬‐Films, the youth films’ wing of Yash Raj Films and also features India’s renowned singer-composer-song writer, Vishal Dadlani.

The music video features the talent and incredible music skills of the 6-Pack Band, Ananya Halarnkar, Anjali Ramesh, Maitreya Matale, Paarth Padhye, Prerna Agarwal, Rishaan Patil and over 100 students, teachers and staff members of The Gateway School of Mumbai, who celebrate life and become role models of open-mindedness by accepting everyone.

According to World Health Organization’s estimates, 20 per cent of the world requires some form of medical intervention for a mental health issue. But 80 per cent cases go unreported due to the stigma attached. This entire campaign hopes to build awareness, understanding and acceptance about mental health and disability and create trendy music along the way.

In conversation with this correspondent, the youngsters from the 6-Pack Band talk about music, their dreams and views.

Do you love to sing? When do you like to sing?

Paarth: I am born to sing . I love to sing any time till I go to sleep in the night.

Rishaan: I love to sing. I like to sing all the time. In the shower, in the car. And especially when I’m not supposed to… like in the classroom, during studies or when Papa is trying to sleep.

What songs do you like? And who are your favourite singers?

Ananya: My favorite songs are Do Lafzon Ki Hai, Hooton Main Aisi Baat , Girls lLike To Swing, The Breakup Song and my favorite singers are Late Mangeshkar and Shreya Ghoshal.

Maitreya: My favourite songs are Channa mereya, Jhakkad Pakkad, and all songs of Secret Superstar. Arijit Singh, Rahat Fateh Ali khan, Shaan, Atif Aslam, Justin Bieber, Shankar Mahadevan and Kailash Kher are my favourite singers.

How do you feel being in a band now?

Paarth: I am feeling like a hero to be member of a band. I am enjoying and learning a lot here.

Ananya: Oh it is great and I am very happy with the response we have received.

How was the experience of singing with Vishal Dadlani?

Anjali: I was very happy

Rishaan: Vishal sir looks like Baba Sehgal. I love his songs Allah ke Bande, Dil Diyan Gallan, Jag Ghumeya, Radha, Dus Bahaane and Maa Da Ladla.

What do you want to do in life (professionally)?

Prerna: I want to be the next singing sensation

Maitreya: I want to be a music director

Ananya: I want to be a singer. That's been my ambition right from childhood.

Paarth: I want to learn classical music and do anything and everything related to music.

Anjali:  I want to take over my dad's company and sing for passion.

Rishaan: I want to be a rockstar, or a pilot or even an astronaut. But someone who sings.

What do you have to say to people who think your ambitions need to be limited because you have special needs?

Prerna: The people with this kind of a thinking are the biggest reason behind my success. I like it when someone judges my capabilities

The article has been written by Jasmin Budhiraja, an aspiring writer and student from Oberoi International School