Earlier this year, while performing at a military training centre in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, singer Ameya Dabli recalls receiving a disturbing piece of news from the army chief Lt Ranbir Singh. Four terror attacks had taken place at a nearby hillock on the same day. The hill, as he soon learnt, was located less than a kilometre away from the centre.

"The chief said to me, 'Don't worry. We will protect you'. This one reassuring line was enough to allay our fears in that high tension zone," he says. Dabli and his team of musicians went on to deliver a power-packed two-hour performance regaling the audience with musical compositions of poems penned by Kabirdas, Guru Nanak, Amir Khusro and Tulsidas. "We didn't realise how those two hours flew by. You see, that's the power of music," he says. Since then, Dabli has performed at several other conflict regions of the country, including eight districts of Jammu and Kashmir, and four in the Northeast.

Singing for peace
It was three years ago that Dabli, a Bhandup resident, conceptualised Ekam Satt, which are essentially pro bono concerts curated for the Indian Armed Forces and civilians, in order to not just motivate jawans, but also bring peace. Born in a family of music lovers - his mother Anuradha Dabli is a trained classical and light music exponent - the 38-year-old was inducted into singing from the age of seven. "But, the idea to use music as a peace building tool was something that took shape during my last stint as the marketing head of Ronny and Zarina Screvwala's Swades Foundation. Here, I got the opportunity to interact with a lot of non-profits," he says.

Dabli, who holds a robust 15 years of corporate experience as marketing head with the Tata Group, HSBC and Citibank, now straddles a music career along with a venture where he mentors start-ups and NGOs to start their businesses. Till date, he has performed over 1,500 concerts across 15 countries. "Initially, it took us a good six months to curate the songs for Ekam Satt, because we wanted it to be a good blend of sufi, folk and contemporary music. We even got RS Mani, the music arranger of Veer Zaara to help us. But now, it's seamless," he says.

While Dable's pieces comprise the works of legendary poets such as Mirabai, Narsinh Mehta, Khwaja Garib Nawab and Tukaram, the songs are infused with peppy global music styles like hip hop, reggae and opera to make it livelier. "When we approached the Army headquarters in New Delhi with the concept, they loved it and immediately asked us to come on board," he says.

On the shaadi front
Interestingly, Dabli is also a sought-after name when it comes to weddings and sangeet and has performed at the glitzy wedding of Sasha Rawal - sister of Bollywood's leading fashion designer Kunal Rawal - and Samarth Bajaj, and very recently, the engagement of Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal. He has also organised gigs for Kumar Mangalam Birla, David and Lali Dhawan, Aditya Birla and Adi Godrej. "It's not the typical shaadi scene. My forte is the pheras, something that most people don't pay much attention to," he laughs. "I perform something called the signature wedding chants, where I don't just recite mantras, but also provide explanation of the vidhis or rituals," adds Dabli, who perfected his Sanskrit under the tutelage of his father, Professor PV Dabli, a scholar in the language.

Dabli says juggling his entrepreneurial venture with his musical endeavours does test his ability to multi-task. "Sometimes, I don't know which one to focus on more. But that's what happens when you love whatever you do equally," he smiles.

Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor has now approached the King George's Medical University (KGMU), offering to donate her plasma for treatment of other Covid-19 patients. The singer called up the head of transfusion medicine department, Prof Tulika Chandra, and volunteered to help.

"She called me up and said she really wanted to help other Covid-19 patients. Vice Chancellor Prof M.L.B. Bhatt has given a go ahead on it and we will now be carrying out the tests on her to see if she is fit to donate her plasma," said Prof Chandra.

As per experts, Kanika's sample will be tested for a number of things before she can donate her plasma. These include her haemoglobin level that should be above 12.5, weight should be more than 50 kg and the patient should not have diabetes, cardiovascular issues, malaria, syphilis and other such ailments.

Kanika's sample will probably be taken on Tuesday and if found to be eligible, she will be donating her plasma on Wednesday. Kanika Kapoor had grabbed headlines last month when she became the first Bollywood celebrity to test positive for Coronavirus.

Kanika had attended two parties in Lucknow in the presence of top politicians and bureaucrats and all of them were later tested for Corona. Kanika was hospitalized for over a fortnight at the Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS).

She had, on April 26, come out with a statement clarifying her travel and Covid-19 history declaring that she was aware of misconceptions and wrong information floating around her but she chose to remain silent until ready to speak. Kanika in her social media post had said that all persons she came in contact with in the UK, Mumbai and Lucknow had been tested negative and that she had duly followed the process.

Meanwhile, the KGMU on Sunday night, made the first plasma transfusion in a 58-year-old patient from Orai who is a government doctor whose condition was critical. The doctors now say that the patient is responding well to the transfusion.

The university has received three plasma donations from fully recovered Covid-19 patients, two from doctors and one from a Lakhimpur man.

Catch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here. Also, download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

Singer Sona Mohapatra, who is known to speak her mind, has come up with a new song, her own badass version of Raees' Zaalima. The singer's soulful voice is a perfect fit for love ballads, case in point Ambarsariya, Naina, Bolo Na and many of her hits. While, it wouldn't be wrong to say that, very few female solo songs are released nowadays in film soundtracks, it came as a pleasant surprise to see this reprise and refreshing version of the the Shah Rukh Khan's film, Raees' popular love song.

Sona has an unique ability to infuse newness in songs and her version of Zaalima is quite different from the original version, sung by Arijit Singh. As per her post, she had created this in-house video with some interesting 'gender-political' messaging about the state of the music industry some time ago and is all set to release it to spread cheer and even some laughs to drive away the lockdown blues, now!

Sona says, "Musicians have been hit the hardest in recent times. There are no residuals or royalties for creators here unlike the west and unless we step out to play concerts on stage we don't make money. It's only sweat labour in India. The lockdown and post COVID era will hit the musicians even harder with no stages to play in and the economy focusing on essentials. In these grim times, most artists in my community have been setting aside their own emotional state and performing online to spread joy and love and I am so proud of all of them! In these times you realise that it's mostly musicians who have the craft and talent to deliver without too many resources or people helping them. My DIY video should be taken with a pinch of salt although any good comedy does come from a truthful place; our film-music has completely sidelined the strong solo female voice in the last decade and it's time for all of us to notice."

"Few know that I had been called to sing the last few lines of the film version but couldn’t fathom why only the last few lines were reserved for the female voice considering it was a romantic duet!" - she wrote on her YouTube channel, while sharing the song. 

A user commented - "I didn't know who's voice was this? Also, I was a huge fan of Sona Ma'am. But now I'm flat. And now after this rendition, I'm completely dead."

Another user commented: Thank goodness she didn't end up singing the actual song.

Tell us your views about the new version of Zaalima!

Catch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here. Also, download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

Who said only Bollywood actors and filmmakers can recall the precious and priceless moments of their lives on social media amid this lockdown? Singers can have their moments of glory and nostalgia too. We are talking about Alka Yagnik, one of the biggest names of the Hindi film industry for the last three decades.

Taking to her Instagram account, she shared a candid and fun moment with the legendary and iconic singer, Kishore Kumar dressed as an Arab. And this is how she has described this classic throwback picture. "V v fond n precious fun moments with my all time Favourite Kishore da... dressed like an Arab here.... upto his antics as always ... Blessed to have sung with n spent time with him... Love u forever Kishore da" (sic)

Have a look right here:

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

V v fond n precious fun moments with my all time Favourite Kishore da... dressed like an Arab here.... upto his antics as always 🤣... Blessed to have sung with n spent time with him... Love u forever Kishore da 🙏🙏😃💖🙏🌺🙏💖😃!!!

A post shared by Alka Yagnik (@therealalkayagnik) onMay 5, 2020 at 3:37am PDT

And another singer who has been massively popular for over 25 years is Sonu Nigam, who had a story to tell on this moment. He also shared the same picture on his account and wrote- "This was in Muscat where they had gone with Kishore Kumar ji. Kishore Kumar ji wanted to dress up like an Arab and have Alka ji, Sapna Mukherjee ji and Sadhana Sargam ji as his daasiyan." (sic)

Have a look once again:

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

What a precious picture sent to me by @therealalkayagnik ji! This was in Muscat where they had gone with Kishore Kumar ji. Kishore Kumar ji wanted to dress up like an Arab and have Alka ji, Sapna Mukherjee ji and Sadhana Sargam ji as his daasiyan. Thank you Alka ji for sending this picture to me. 😇

A post shared by Sonu Nigam (@sonunigamofficial) onMay 5, 2020 at 3:59am PDT

Kishore Kumar's contribution to Hindi Cinema can never be forgotten and almost all the singers have been inspired by his journey and success. And as far as the era of the 90s is concerned, it was truly made memorable by Alka Yagnik and Sonu Nigam. They truly don't make like them anymore!

Catch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here. Also, download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

As singer Adele made a comeback on social media with a picture of her svelte physique on her birthday, Bollywood's fashion diva Sonam Kapoor lauded the transformation.

Sonam who also had to shed off kilos before making her Bollywood debut with the film 'Saawariya' took to Instagram and shared the latest post of the singer on her story.

"What a transformation...So commendable. Love you @adele cannot wait for your new music," Kapoor wrote along with the picture.

Earlier in the day, the 'Hello' singer made a stunning comeback on social media for marking her 32nd birthday.

She further dedicated the post to the frontline workers who are fighting off COVID-19.

Adele's new music is expected sometime in 2020 and would be her first album since '25', released in 2015, which followed earlier releases '21' and '19'.

Catch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here. Also, download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

Between cooking and watching TV, Sayantani Ghosh is making time to train herself in singing. "I could always sing, but I want to take it more seriously since I have the time. I have been checking online classes too," she says. Just like a lot of Bollywood and Television celebrities who are trying out new stuff, she is honing her singing skills.

Spreading love

Amid the grim situation, Aalisha Panwar hopes to spread some positivity among her fans. She says, "I want to bring a smile on their faces, so I have started an interactive session, Friday Fan Love to spend some time with my fans."

Slambook

Kunal Thakur

One superpower you wish to possess?
The power of teleportation.

Your last fantasy?
Penélope Cruz.

The last nightmare you had?
That I fell out of a window while trying to take a picture of the sunset.

One thing on your wishlist.
To buy a high-end motorbike and go on a road trip.

Your worst project?
A film that I backed out of because it didn't go as expected.

Catch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here. Also, download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

Grammy-nominated gospel singer Troy Sneed has died from complications with the coronavirus. He was 52. Sneed's publicist, Bill Carpenter, shared that the singer passed away on Monday at a hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, reports usatoday.com.

Sneed earned a Grammy nomination for his work on the Youth For Christ's 1999 album, "Higher". The singer traveled throughout the US early in his career to sing the gospel with the Georgia Mass Choir. He arranged music on their albums and appeared with the choir in the 1996 film "The Preacher's Wife" starring Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington. He also served as a producer on Youth For Christ's "The Struggle Is Over", which was at No. 1 on Billboard's gospel songs chart in 2006.

As a solo artist, Sneed released seven albums and had several hit songs within the gospel realm including "Work it out" and "My heart says yes". He is also known for the upbeat "Hallelujah".

Catch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here. Also, download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

Brit singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock's dream of a summer wedding to Wolverhampton-born footballer Andre Gray, 28, has been shattered and to say she is merely disappointed is an understatement.

Leigh-Anne, 28, and Andre were to tie the knot in a private ceremony before the Coronavirus-caused lockdown emerged as
a hurdle.

Talking about her secret wedding plans, the Little Mix music group star, Leigh-Anne, told British tabloid, The Daily Star: “The wedding is probably not going to happen now because we can't go anywhere. He's probably not going to do it in the house. So it looks like my dream is officially over. I've not really been planning it, but every girl has got the idea of what they want; it is a dream of mine.”

Leigh-Anne and the Watford player have been together since 2016 and were looking forward to be husband and wife. “We both want it so bad. If I wasn't in Little Mix, we probably would have started planning already.”

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

They have been dating less than a year. 

He just released his new book of poetry, titled Prince of Neptune. 

She's a veteran pop culture junkie who's interviewed the who's who of the entertainment industry. 

It seems the Twitter feud between Iggy Azalea and Guy Sebastian is far from over. 

Despite his rapid road to stardom, the 23-year-old singer still lives at home with his parents in Bathgate, Scotland, with no future plans of parting with his childhood stomping ground.

The curly-haired 21-year-old accepted the honor in a yellow-trimmed kimono top and matching shorts which featured a b&w painting

Taylor Swift political awakening was on display in full flourish at the MTV Video Music Awards on Monday night.  

Sam Fender has been forced to pull out of Glastonbury Festival 2019 over health reasons just hours after Snow Patrol cancelled their slot. 

Adorable footage shows a toddler bouncing wildly to Billie Eilish's, 17, performance at this year's Glastonbury Festival in Somerset. Both dance in perfect unison as the tot cheers at the television.

A limited edition Heinz tomato ketchup designed by Ed Sheeran has become the priciest sauce ever, after it sold at auction for £1,500.

Ed Sheeran's manager has revealed that the Shape Of You singer asks him whether he can do the James Bond theme song every day.

She carved a name for herself as one of the famous Jackson siblings.

The Shape of You hitmaker, 28, most recently said that he must carry a laminated picture of the Weasley twins from Harry Potter in his wallet at all times.

Earlier this month, Tones And I beat the record set by Ed Sheeran for the most weeks in the number one position on the ARIA Singles Chart. 

The chart-topper, 28, has dropped the brand new video for his latest single Beautiful People with singer Khalid, just hours after the track was released.

Blake Shelton fought for respect on Tuesday's episode of The Voice, sparring with his fellow judges and failing to pick up singers before finally scoring one at the end. 

John Legend and Kelly Clarkson used a new show rule on The Voice on Monday to protect their first artists out as the Battle Rounds began.

The 37-year-old singer repeatedly tried to steal her fellow coaches' contestants Monday on the The Voice and nabbed one from Gwen Stefani, 50.

Singer Darlene Love is furious at the production team behind the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting who she accused of snubbing her for the last decade.

The 50-year-old coach was reduced to tears Monday while listening to one of her contestants sing about finding love on The Voice as the semifinalists performed.

The 52-year-old actress and comedienne revealed herself to be the voice behind the Tree on Tuesday's episode of The Masked Singer, surprising all of the judges but one.

The 50-year-old coach rejoiced after her lone singer Rose Short, 35, won the Instant Save on Tuesday on The Voice and advanced to the finals of the NBC singing show.

The 27-year-old singer proved he was a force to be reckoned with as a new coach on The Voice's Season 18 premiere, which aired Monday.

The 27-year-old singer blocked Kelly Clarkson, 37, from pursuing a singer who covered her hit song Miss Independent on Tuesday's episode of The Voice.

The 43-year-old country star was the biggest winner on the results episode of The Voice on Tuesday as the top 17 contestants were whittled to nine on the NBC show.

When Kangaroo wowed the judges on The Masked Singer on Sunday night, fans immediately flooded social media with their theory that the celebrity behind the mask was none other than Jordyn Woods.

Viewers tuning in on Sunday night were left baffled as X Factor: The Band singer wore a hoodie emblazoned with a swear word before 9pm watershed.

Unlucky-in-love Stefan-Pierre Tomlin, 29, from south London, shot to fame in 2017 after the dating app revealed 14,600 woman had swiped right for him in two years - more than any other Brit.

The Masked Singer raked in 6.5 million viewers despite people calling it the 'trashiest' TV filled with B-listers under a monster's mask. It stars a bizarre line-up including the former Home Secretary.

The pair's love rivalry was brought back to the forefront this week after Selena released a new track about Justin Bieber, triggering an avalanche of drama.

Tyka Nelson revealed to that she was starting to come to terms with her brother's death, saying: 'In the beginning it was 90 per cent he's not gone and 10 per cent maybe, and now it's finally flipping.'

She has been reportedly embroiled in a bitter war over her late ex-fiance Prince's estate.

An original recording of Prince's hit single Nothing Compares 2 U has been released ahead of the two-year anniversary of his death. The singer wrote the song and gave it away, reclaiming it later on.

TMZ reported on Tuesday morning that the talented musician passed away at his home in Florida while possibly on his way to the hospital according to a relative.

Sheila Ferguson (pictured) is battling a property development she claims threatens to destroy her priceless collection of musical memorabilia, contained in garages near her former Thames home.

ISIS fighters inside the Bataclan theatre were heard shouting 'Where's the singer? Where are the Yanks?' just moments after the Eagles of Death Metal band had fled the stage, before the slaughter.

The Korean-born songstress told her Facebook fans on Thursday that she took part in the original series, King of Masked Singer

The 24-year-old singer dropped pop music in favor of her country roots on Tuesday's episode of The Voice.

The Voice UK left you feeling that the show’s ‘experts’ actually wouldn’t recognise real talent if it was standing right in front of them (or just behind them to be more precise).

Wham! star Andrew Ridgeley says he 'wouldn't be surprised' if the consequences were 'very harsh' for children who are rejected from X Factor, at Cheltenham Literary Festival, on Saturday.

It's no secret that there's little love lost between Christopher Maloney and the rest of the former X Factor contestants.

There are countless surprises in store for contestants in this year's X Factor, but none as big as the news that one of SeSe Foster from Miss Dynamix is five months pregnant. The 22 year-old hopeful told TV bosses that she's expecting - just days before the show's live episodes are due to commence, this weekend.