If you want to enjoy the Qatar-India Year of Culture 2019, do not miss the most appropriate performance going to take place on March 1 when both Indian and Qatari music will be offered.
Bollywood’s ‘Sultans of Swag’, Vishal and Shekhar are all set for their debut concert in Doha. The performance will also feature Qatar’s Grammy-nominee Fahad al-Kubaisi. The event will take place at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena in Al Sadd from 6pm onwards. The performance is styled by Manish Malhotra, well known Indian fashion designer.
First ever Qatar-India vocal collaboration in the world is bringing two different kinds of music together for the Doha audience making it a historic performance.
There have been different kinds of cultural exchange programmes taking place both in India and Qatar to mark the year and bring the two nations closer through culture and art.
Bollywood’s ‘Sultans of Swag’ is presented by FAB Entertainment. Ensuring this special performance is accessible to all, the organisers have also launched a ‘Worker Welfare Initiative,’ allowing for corporations in Qatar to purchase special discounted tickets for their staff to experience the premiere performance. The event provides a rare opportunity for nationals of South Asia to see the global entertainment icons together in Doha.
In a statement shared with media, Fauzia Adeel Butt, CEO of FAB Entertainment, said, “We are thrilled to be bringing this special world-class entertainment duo to Qatar for the first time as a part of the Qatar-India Year of Culture. India’s fashion icon Manish Malhotra will be dressing Fahad al-Kubaisi depicting a fusion of Indo-Arab fashion. We are grateful to our partners QNTC, Qatar Museums, Qatar Airways, HBK Contracting, St. Regis Doha, Al Mana Malls, MegaMart, OneFM and Careem, who have ensured we make this pioneering effort a reality. We thank Embassy of India and P Kumaran, Ambassador of India, for his continuous support. We have recently launched the ‘Worker’s Welfare Initiative’ in hope that such efforts can bring communities together and ensure that everyone has access to good entertainment. It certainly feels rewarding and boosts one’s morale.”
Vishal–Shekhar are an Indian music composer duo consisting of Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani. The duo is known for their work in Hindi, Telugu and Marathi films. The duo rose to prominence when they composed the songs for the film Jhankaar Beats which included the song Tu Aashiqui Hai. They won the Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent for Jhankaar Beats.
Vishal Dadlani is a singer and vocalist of the electronic band Pentagram, and Shekhar Ravjiani is a trained classical singer. Vishal is also a judge of the globally acclaimed music talent show, Indian Idol and Shekhar of Sa Re Ga Ma. The duo composed more than 250 songs featuring superhit albums, including Tiger Zinda Hai, Befikre, Ra.One and Sultan. Their biggest hit Swag Se Swagat became the world’s fastest song to hit 100 million views before going on to touch 650 million within a year.
Fahad al-Kubaisi is a Qatari singer, record producer, fashion model and human rights activist. His voice has been described as a ‘tender’ baritone. He is also famous for producing a sophisticated genre of Khaliji music.
Fahad became the first Gulf singer to compete in the Grammy Awards. His album, Enta Eshq, was nominated for the ‘World Music Album’ in the 60th Grammys Awards in 2018. Fahad will be collaborating with Vishal and Shekhar for a special performance and will be styled by Indian fashion icon Manish Malhotra.
Talking to Community, Muralidhar Rao, member of Indian Community Benevolent Forum, said, “There have been numerous performances by different Indian artistes in Qatar. But, this is a different sort of event. It is going to offer a rare opportunity of witnessing two different music performances together. It will give the audience a better understanding of two distinct cultures.
“Indians live in Qatar in huge numbers. Such cultural exchange programme will help bring them close to the Qatari culture. Music removes all communication barriers and we can understand each other better through music.”
GROUP: From left Vishal Dadlani, Fahad al-Kubaisi and and Shekhar Ravjiani. Photos supplied
