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India is
just like Pakistan, say reality show contestants
Sunday, September 19, 2010 09:50:08 AM,
Radhika
Bhirani,
IANS
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Related Article |
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Majority in India and Pakistan wants peace
between both countries
Despite the continuous hostility between the
two countries, a majority of the billion and a half people of India
and Pakistan want to live as peaceful and friendly neighbours,
recent opinion surveys conducted by the Jang Group and the Times of
India »
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New Delhi:
Be it the food, the streets, the people or the music, Pakistani
children who are contestants on Indian reality shows hardly feel
any difference between the two neighbouring nations. For them,
it's like a home away from home.
Karachi-based Wanya Jibran, a
participant on STAR Plus' music reality show "Chhote Ustaad", says
she was apprehensive about travelling to India with her mother but
felt extremely well settled once she touched Mumbai.
"I was scared of travelling alone with my mom. But my parents were
very supportive and said it's a lifetime's opportunity. And when I
came to Mumbai, I found no major difference. It's like my Karachi.
People here are also so nice; they take good care of us," the
13-year-old told IANS.
Wanya says she fails to understand the constant refrain about the
two nations being at loggerheads.
"I don't know why people keep talking about tensions between India
and Pakistan. I have never felt for a single moment that these two
countries have bitter relations. I think relations are good and
friendly," she added.
Wanya is one among 10 children shortlisted from Pakistan to take
part in "Chhote Ustaad", which has one Indian child teamed with a
Pakistani child to denote unity.
There are others too like Rouhan Abbas, 13, and Rosemary Mushtaq,
11, who are enjoying the Indian hospitality and their newfound
friends across the border.
"Mujhe yahaan vada pav bahut achha lag raha hai (I have been
enjoying eating vada pav in Mumbai). I have made so many friends
here and have learnt so much from all judges that I will always
remember India with a smile," said Rouhan, who lives in Lahore,
and is a big fan of Indian singers Sonu Nigam and Hariharan.
Rosemary, also from Karachi, says she enjoys the rehearsals and
the fun they have off-screen. She too is not concerned about the
supposedly strained relations between the two countries.
Sonu Nigam and popular Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who
has given several Bollywood hits, are the judges on the singing
contest.
Children apart, Khurram Iqbal, the only Pakistani contestant on
Zee TV's "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Singing Superstars", says people had
taunted him before coming to India for the show. But now he is
glad he didn't pay heed to them.
"My parents and friends gave me a lot of support, but I heard that
many others were saying things like - 'India kyun jaa raha hai yeh
ladka (Why is he going to India)'. I was frankly scared of coming
here," Iqbal told IANS.
"But believe me, I have spent three-and-a-half months here in
India now, and I have not missed home at all. I don't feel I'm
away from Pakistan," said the 21-year-old, who dreams of becoming
a Bollywood singer.
Khurram is still overjoyed that he got a chance to come
face-to-face with his idol - Salman Khan. It's such simple moments
of joy that these contestants will take back with them.
In the past, established singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya had
expressed his displeasure about Pakistani singers coming to India,
but Sonu Nigam feels this exchange of culture will go a long way
in changing attitudes.
"Children have impressionable minds; so inculcating positivity and
a feeling of brotherhood in them from this age will result in a
very good future. Our show is a good initiative and I hope people
will appreciate it," the singer said.
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who has sung tracks "Teri Ore" and the
recent "Tere Mast Mast do Nain", said the show "encourages
brotherhood between India and Pakistan, advocates peace and that
love should be the foundation of everything".
Over the years, many Pakistani singers have found a foothold in
the Indian industry like Adnan Sami, Atif Aslam and Shafqat Amanat
Ali apart from Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.
And Ashish Golwalkar, creative head (non-fiction) of Zee TV, says,
"Raag Bhairavi does not change in Pakistan. The basics of music
are the same everywhere. It is just all about bringing the best of
talent on one stage and spreading peace."
(Radhika
Bhirani can be contacted at radhika.b@ians.in)
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