#SonuNigam, #SalimMerchant, #Shaan, #SunilGrover, #Hariharan, #Sharib and #ToshiSabri, #RajeshGawande and many more turned up to raise a toast to Rabbani. But it wasn’t just about big names and selfies, the energy was personal… like a family get-together where the playlist is made of memories. Rabbani’s family – his brothers Qadir Mustafa Khan, Murtuza Mustafa Khan, Hasan Mustafa Khan, along with his sisters, nephews and nieces, were all there, adding to the evening’s charm.

Voices rose in harmony, jokes flew across tables, and some even took to dancing… Hariharan and Sonu Nigam let loose and grooved to the music, much to everyone’s delight, while Shaan sang with his signature smiling charm, leaving those around him enthralled. Toshi Sabri’s little one, Moosa, melted hearts with his adorable rendition of ‘Sa Re Ga Ma’. Rabbani then took the mic for ‘Bahut Bechain Hai Dil’, and the room fell into a collective hush. And the highlight of the evening? The grand-children of the late Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, the generation next, sang their hearts out, leaving everyone misty-eyed. Singers from the fraternity beamed with pride and cheered them on… one witnessed the kind of love that cannot be rehearsed, the kind of joy that only music and belonging can bring.

For the uninitiated, Rabbani Mustafa Khan is born into the first family of Hindustani classical music. He is the son and disciple of the legendary Padma Vibhushan Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan. He carries forward the majestic Senia traditions that trace their roots to the great Mia Tansen and is part of the esteemed Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana. Over the years, Rabbani has travelled the world performing alongside his late father, keeping the spirit of Indian classical music alive. Many will remember his soulful performance of ‘Aao Balma’ and ‘Soz O Salaam’ in Coke Studio Season 3 where he performed with his father, brothers Qadir Mustafa, Murtuza Mustafa, Hasan Mustafa, and nephew Faiz Mustafa, with music produced by none other than AR Rahman. He has also lent his voice to ‘Allah Hu Allah’ in the film Sarbjit for composer Tanishk Bagchi, and ‘Peer Meri Piya Jaane Na’ from ‘Mera Fauji Calling’.

By Keerti Kadam

The post Artists from the music and entertainment world come together for singer Rabbani Mustafa Khan’ brithday bash! first appeared on Latest News, Breaking News, National News, World News, India News, Bollywood News, Business News, Politics News, Sports News, Entertainment News - CineBuster.

Goongoonalo is a digital platform created by artists for artists. It is dedicated not only to music but also to poetry, storytelling, and other creative expressions. The app features original content, unreleased classics, mentorship sessions, masterclasses, jam sessions, open mics, and direct fan interactions.

Founding members include Javed Akhtar, Shankar Mahadevan, Sonu Nigam, #ShreyaGhoshal, #ArijitSingh, #PrasoonJoshi, #SameerAnjaan, #VishalDadlani, #AmitTrivedi, and others. The app was developed by technology expert #SridharRanganathan, with #SherleySingh serving as CEO.

Artists’ Perspectives on Goongoonalo….
Javed Akhtar: “May 5, 2025, is a historic day. Goongoonalo gives artists the freedom to create without the constraints of producers or music companies. It’s the first of its kind globally, where musicians, lyricists, and singers are shareholders. Artists will have complete creative freedom, and no committee will oversee their work. Members will also introduce new talents, giving exposure to emerging singers, lyricists, and composers.”

Shankar Mahadevan: “Goongoonalo is a platform created by artists for artists. It’s a stage to write the next chapter of music. Today is a significant and historic day for all artists. Through this platform, the dreams of many artists will come true.”

Sonu Nigam: “When I came to Mumbai in the 90s, we wanted to do something different. Now, Goongoonalo is the platform that offers the creative freedom we were looking for.”

Sameer Anjaan: “This is the best day for people in the music field. After years of dreams and efforts, this app has been launched. Whether it’s folk singers or classical artists, this platform is unparalleled. Creators are given complete freedom to do what they want.”

Prasoon Joshi: “People think that if an artist has a mic and a stage, they don’t need anything else. But writers and musicians often express someone else’s thoughts. This platform allows them to share their own voice. Goongoonalo provides the freedom to think and create without any constraints.”

Sridhar Ranganathan (Founder Member): “We’ve been working on this app for the past four years. Bringing all artists together was challenging, but after years of effort, this platform is ready. Artists and fans can register at www.goongoonalo.com to become part of this creative family.”

Sherley Singh (CEO): “If you’re a dreamer, Goongoonalo is where you should be. This platform changes the equation. Typically, when an artist releases a song, the rights belong to the makers or music label. Here, the artist owns their song, and any revenue generated is shared with them.”

Hariharan: “This platform is different because artists themselves own the company. I hope some excellent music will be produced, which listeners can enjoy on Goongoonalo.”

Salim Merchant: “This is a significant opportunity for art and music. We’ve become accustomed to composing based on others’ stories, but this app allows us to express what we feel and think. Our community will inspire many people.”

Sulaiman Merchant: “This is a historic initiative that will empower artists. It’s the first streaming platform of its kind.”

Raju Singh: “This platform will fulfill our incomplete dreams that we couldn’t realize due to market pressures. We can present our ideas with freedom here.”

Lalit Pandit: “We’ve been waiting for this day for years, and now this historic app is here.”

Anand – Milind: “Goongoonalo will bring forth creations close to our hearts. It’s an essential and excellent platform for songwriters, composers, and singers.”

Aruna Sairam: “I’m thrilled to be a shareholder in Goongoonalo. As a classical singer, I’ve always wanted to collaborate with non-classical artists, and this platform offers that opportunity.”

Papon: “There’s no other app in the world that offers artists such freedom and partnership. All artists will work together, and songs will be released on Goongoonalo’s platform.”

Shaan: “This is truly historic. It started with good intentions, and anything done from the heart yields good results. We’ll strive to present our best songs on Goongoonalo.”

Ehsaan Noorani: “This platform allows us to create something new and different on our terms. It’s a unique platform owned by artists, offering numerous collaboration opportunities.”

Shweta Mohan: “This app will preserve the soul of independent songs and bring them to the audience.”

Anusha Mani: “The team behind this platform is so inspiring that I immediately became a part of it. It’s a medium for our creative expression.”

Manan Shah: “Being part of Goongoonalo with music legends is an honor. Creating songs with complete creative freedom here will be a unique experience.”

Amitabh Bhattacharya: “I hope this platform proves to be a game-changer for music-related artists. Through this platform, we can work on ideas we’ve longed to realize.”

Siddharth Mahadevan: “We artists will release our songs on our own company, Goongoonalo. Its USP is that every artist will promote each other’s songs, reaching a vast audience.”

Features and Upcoming Events: Under ‘Goongoonalo Originals,’ a special song by Shreya Ghoshal will be released first. Activities like a singing workshop with Arijit Singh, a lyrics lab with Irshad Kamil, and production sessions with Salim-Sulaiman will follow. The ‘Fanverse’ feature will allow fans to design merchandise, participate in crowdfunding, and join virtual meetups.

The Future of Culture with Goongoonalo: Shankar Mahadevan concluded, “Here, unique collaborations like Aruna Sairam with Sonu Nigam or Vishal-Shekhar with Kaushiki Chakraborty will be seen. This is the new digital form of India’s cultural soul.”

By Keerti Kadam

The post Goongoonalo, India’s first artist-owned cultural app, launched by Javed Akhtar and others! first appeared on Latest News, Breaking News, National News, World News, India News, Bollywood News, Business News, Politics News, Sports News, Entertainment News - CineBuster.

Paying homage to the original composition by #ARRahman, Bharat is a moving rendition by #MananBhardwaj, penned by #ManojMuntashir, and brought to life by the legendary #Hariharan. The song rekindles the emotions of patriotism and unity.

With stirring orchestration and heartfelt lyrics, the song echoes The Diplomat’s themes of diplomacy and resilience. Just as John Abraham’s character fights with intellect over force, Bharat reminds us that true patriotism lies in perseverance, wisdom, and unwavering belief. Its evocative melody and powerful words make it more than an anthem—it’s a celebration of India’s indomitable spirit.

The film marks a shift for John Abraham, portraying a character rooted in strategy, intellect, and negotiation—showcasing a strong-headed and dynamic avatar unlike any seen before.

Releasing on 7th March 2025, The Diplomat is produced by #BhushanKumar & #KrishanKumar (T-Series), #JohnAbraham (JA Entertainment), #VipulDShah, #AshwinVarde, #RajeshBahl (Wakaoo Films), and #SameerDixit, #JatishVarma, #RakeshDang (Fortune Pictures/Seeta Films).

By Keerti Kadam

The post T-Series Unveils Bharat from ‘The Diplomat’! first appeared on Latest News, Breaking News, National News, World News, India News, Bollywood News, Business News, Politics News, Sports News, Entertainment News - CineBuster.

An inspiring election anthem is talk of the nation today. Produced by the honourable Election Commission of India starring film stars and celebrities from all major languages and directed by the ace film maker Subhash Ghai’s anthem “Main Bharat Hoon” was inaugurated and appreciated by honourable President of India in Delhi on the occasion of National Voter’s Day and was also a part of the national parade in Delhi on Republic Day 2024 to encourage Indian citizens to exercise their voting rights for the development of the country.

The anthem features the likes of Mohanlal, Ajith, Gippy Grewal, Vidya Balan, Virat Kohli, R Madhavan, Subodh Bhave, Prosenajit, Suriya, Anushka Sharma, Sidharth Malhotra amongst others, has been sung by Sukhwinder Singh, Sonu Nigam, Hariharan, Javed Ali, Ustaad Rashid Khan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Memeet Syed Kashmiri, Vaishali Samant, Dipti Rekha Padhi, Alka Yagnik, K.S Chitra, Kaushik Chakraborthy and Mika Singh.
Subhash Ghai tweeted the song with caption citing
“मै भारत हूँ भारत है मुझमें
मैं ताक़त हूँ ताक़त है मुझमें !!
Tweet – https://x.com/subhashghai1/status/1787335456486457855?s=48&t=PgEKXMPRi_G31Vl-cqEWpw”

Subhash Ghai further shared, “It is a song sung by singers from across the country to inspire every Indian citizen to go to vote for his own nation, as his first duty towards the nation. It has been recorded by top singers in Hindi as well as in various languages by veteran singers from across the country. It was exhibited at the national parade on Republic Day this year and is widely publicised all over India by the Election Commission of India. The young musicians of the music school of Whistling Woods international institute have recorded the song and made a video produced by the Election Commision of India in public interest.”

The anthem has been instrumental in encouraging first time voters to exercise their voting rights efficiently and continues to win hearts across the country.

The post An inspiring election anthem, ‘Main Bharat Hoon’ from Subhash Ghai foundation, is talk of the town! first appeared on Latest News, Breaking News, National News, World News, India News, Bollywood News, Business News, Politics News, Sports News, Entertainment News - CineBuster.

The video features prominent instrumentalists from across the country. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt graces the mohan veena, Ronu Majumdar enchants with the flute, Purbayan Chatterjee mesmerizes with the sitar, and Tajhesh Vaidya enthralls with the veena while Ghosh takes charge of the table and percussion instruments, uniting the ensemble in harmonious synergy.

Bickram Ghosh, who was recently honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (Akademi Puraskar) in the contemporary category, says, “Ye Desh is about the spirit of our country. I thought it would be wonderful to create an anthem to celebrate 75 years of our independence by collaborating with both established musicians and newcomers. When we were young, there were so many other patriotic songs that used to be played on TV. I thought that we need to have a song that matched the energy of the current generation. So when I was composing it, I kept the song purposely high energy.”

The song, conceptualised by Bickram Ghosh, features many established musicians as well as newcomers: Shaan, Richa Sharma, Hariharan, Mahalakshmi lyer, Kavita Seth, Rishi Singh, Deboshmita Roy, Chirag Kotwal, Mohammed Faiz, Bidipta Chakraborty, Senjuti Das, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Ronu Majumdar, Purbayan Chatterjee, and Rajesh Vaidhya.

The post ‘Yeh Desh’ conceptualised by Bickram Ghosh, features many established musicians! first appeared on Latest News, Breaking News, National News, World News, India News, Bollywood News, Business News, Politics News, Sports News, Entertainment News - CineBuster.

#HariharanAnanthaSubramani is prominently known as a #GhazalSinger, He has 30 gazal albums to his credit, but his #Bhajans and film songs too are very popular. He has touched many lives in over four decades of his career. Additionally he is into fusion music which makes him a versatile singer. In assosiation with musician Leslie Lewis he formed a two member band, Colonial Cousins. The album had two major hit singles, ‘#Krishna’ and ‘#SaNiDhaPa’ (Never Know the Reason) which repeatedly played on #Music channels. Now they have parted ways. He is an established ghazal singer and one of the pioneers of Indian fusion music. #Hariharan has been equally popular with older as well as younger listeners as he keeps experimenting about his singing. Moreover he has sung in multiple languages, which include #Tamil, #Hindi, #Telugu, #Malayalam, #Kannada, #Sinhala, #Bhojpuri, #Bengali, #Odia and #Marathi. There are more than 15000 songs to his credit and that says a lot about his talent and versatility. Recently he released a new Ghazal titled, ‘#Dooriyan….’ and it proves that a good artist can never be away from music. Not that Hariharan ever took a break and at the age of 67 too his voice is loved by the music lovers. He can encapsulate any genre in singing with ease. ‘#PadmaShri’ Hariharan interacted with our Sr Editor Keerti Kadam. Excerpts…

Your new Ghazal ‘Dooriyan…’ is out now. What’s your views on it?
Ghazal is my favourite singing genre. Talking about Dooriyan it’s a well crafted song. It’s a cross-country collaboration that depict emotions of a heartbroken person in love. I was approached to sing it by Kailash Gandharv, a music composer from Ujjain. He sent me the composition. I suggested a few changes. Then the lyrics by Madan Pal though very good but were too many. There were too many stanzas. So I and my co-singer Sadhana Jejurikar decided on which stanzas to keep and which each one of us to recite. My son Akshay has produced this gazal and while he professionally managed the arrangements and dubbing etc, has put in his inputs which will help the song to reach out to the younger generation. Instead of 4 by 4, (each measure contain four quarter note beats) he has recorded it in 7 by 8. The soundscape by him is modern which sounds like today’s song. He does have musical instinct which helped the song to pan out beautifully. I and Sadhana dubbed it and now it’s in front of you and hopefully everyone will like it.

Hariharan, in his early career, has cut several successful Ghazal albums, writing most of the scores himself. One of Hariharan’s first ghazal albums was ‘Aabshar-e-Ghazal’ with legendary Asha Bhosle which went gold in sales. His another popular Ghazal album was Gulfam which not only hit double platinum in sales but also fetched Hariharan the Diva Award for the Best Album of the Year in 1995. The other major ghazal albums by him are Hazir, Jashn, Halka Nasha, Paigham, Kaash and Lahore Ke Rang Hari Ke Sang. Hariharan has also worked with tabla maestro Zakir Hussain on his album Hazir. He has A R Rahman as a fan and both, for the first time, worked together for ‘Roja’ for a Tamil song ‘Thamizha Thamizha’.

Given the pop culture ruling charts, do you think the youngsters like to listen to Ghazals?
Of course. I strongly believe that even youngsters are interested in Ghazals. I was in Delhi for a concert just a few months back and there was a crowd of around 15000 people which included 10000 youngsters. Even in my Bhopal Ghazal concert there were majority of younger audience in 5-6 thousand crowd. In Indore concert too similar thing was observed. So I know for sure that plenty of youths follow ghazal and it’s a good sign for this genre. In Mumbai’s NCPA auditorium too there are 2000 people where good percentage of youngsters are present. Ghazals were popular earlier and it’s popular even today despite onslaught of other popular songs. As long as there is love in the world, and for that matter break up too, Ghazal will exist.

But, I think that today’s music is short lived. Most of the songs which are considered popular are forgotten in no time. Today’s songs are made popular with Hammering. If a song is played for 10000 times, it obviously is going to get noticed. But that’s not Real popularity. The songs are forcefully thrown down the throat of the listeners. I believe in versatility. I am eager to learn new points of views. I am approached by new composers, some of them are from rural areas too. I love folk music. I tell them that I am in your hands for the next three hours and my slate is clean now. Treat me like your student. I believe in following the composers’ vision because they know the idea behind it. Frankly I befriend them so that they are not in awe to work with me. I believe in the end product being good. I tell them that it’s up to you to make me sing the way you have visualised the song. I have learnt this from great singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle etc who used to surrender before the composer’s vision and sing as per their requirements. In the process you drive away monotony.

Hariharan and late Gulshan Kumar recorded Hanuman Chalisa under the T-Series label which crossed three billion views mark on YouTube. It’s the first first devotional song in the world to do so.

How do you feel for this feat?
Gulshan Kumar was very close to me. The rendition of Hanuman Chalisa was very dear to me and him. I think Hanumanji is more popular (laughs). Gulshan bhai used to urge me to sing more devotional songs and bhajans. A lot of people across country tell me that Sir, we listen to your Hanuman Chalisa everyday. Again it’s considered auspicious as it is played at the inaugural events too.

What difference do you find in yesteryear and today’s songs?
Today, octave has become very high. Whatever the emotion, love, pain or anger, the song is sung at high pitch. I fail to understand the reason behind it. Maybe when a song is recorded at high octave, the instruments too are played at high octave, resultantly the vibrations are very high. And everything put together the song sounds catchy. I wonder why today’s singers sing in high octave? Moreover most of the songs have doctored voices.

Taking this further, do you think whether it’s justifiable for film stars to sing?
I personally can not comment on that. I have just acted in a Malayalam film (smiles). But in earlier times there used to be singing stars. You were offered acting assignment only if you knew singing. But in the changed scenario I think it’s okay for a film star to sing a song here and there. Some actors have passion for singing and if they are good at it, then why not? See, stars are extremely popular and even if they sing not that brightly, their fans will forgive them. If the song suits the situation and his or her voice supports that situation, then the star is justified. Also some sing for fun, so it is okay if film stars try to sing in films or otherwise. But I think film music is not music per say. It is for media, i.e. Films.

At the start of his career, Hariharan did the concert circuit and also performed on TV. He sang for a number of TV serials like Junoon. He is a trusted singer for A R Rehman because both collaborated for many films, including Muthu, Minsara Kanavu, Jeans, Indian, Iruvar, Guru, Enthiran, Sivaji to name a few. Apart from outstanding singer Hariharan is a composer too and have composed for a polish film ‘No Means No’. Hariharan is the recipient of the coveted National Award, twice. He won it for a the song ‘Mere Dushman Mere Bhai’ from ‘Border’ and second one was the song, ‘Jiv Rangla’ from the marathi film ‘Jogwa’.

The post Hariharan : The Pioneer of Indian Fusion Music! first appeared on Latest News, Breaking News, National News, World News, India News, Bollywood News, Business News, Politics News, Sports News, Entertainment News - CineBuster.

Singer Hariharan said that Rajeev Mahavir has composed very good tunes and Raksha Shrivastava has sung them beautifully. Sandeep Mahavir has directed the amazing video, I am looking like a hero.

Raksha Shrivastava looked very happy and excited on this occasion. She said, “I consider myself very fortunate that I got an opportunity to work with a singer like Hariharan at the beginning of my career. Also thanks to Rumi Jafry ji that we requested him and he came here to give us his blessings.”

Rumi Jafry praised the voice of Raksha Shrivastava and said, “I have seen both the songs which are very good. There is love in the voice of Raksha, the video is also amazing. I wish them all the best for a bright future. Hariharan is such a singer who can sing on any type of composition.”

Director Sandeep Mahavir said, “The first video has been shot in minus 4 degrees in Kashmir. The video has a beautiful story.
It’s a big deal for her because Raksha’s journey has started with a legend like Hariharan.”

On this occasion, Kaushal Mahavir who is Guru of Raksha Shrivastava was also present, he also commended her voice. Haider Najmi’s beautiful Ghazal in this album Haath Mila To Dil Bhi Mila De Hai. Lucknow’s Anurag Sinha’s Ya Khuda Mere Khayon Mein Yeh Manjar Kyun Hai Ghazal is heart touching, as well as Dil ki Har ah pe which has been sung by Hariharan and Arzoo Banke Ghazal is by Taufik Palvi. Ankita’s “Adhura Pyaar ” from Banaras has also been included.

The story of Raksha Shrivastava becoming a singer is interesting. Raksha, who was very fond of singing since childhood, did not have any music lover in her family. Father was a police officer and there was absolutely no musical atmosphere in the house, due to which she did not get a chance to learn music. The family wanted her to become an IAS/IPS officer as she was good at studies. When she did not get a chance to learn singing even after insisting, then Raksha, who lived in Bhopal, took up music as a subject in college. Slowly she started learning music and due to her natural talent, she started progressing quickly. She received training from Ustad Sarwat Hussain Khan. Raksha’s grasp of Urdu language and interest in literature boosted her singing, but fate took a turn, when she came to Indore after being transferred, then the atmosphere of ghazals in Indore city was negligible.

Despite a lot of effort, music as a career did not bloom and Raksha had to look for another career option. Due to her attractive personality, sharp mind, hardworking and quick learning skills, Raksha got success in the media.

She was a senior journalist of Madhya Pradesh for 15 years, but she used to love music and ghazals. The era of Covid came after 15 years of exile. Everything was closed, then again Raksha started doing riyaaz and sharing her songs on social media.

When music composer Rajeev Mahavir heard Raksha’s voice, Rajeev inspired Raksha to start singing again. The family supported and Raksha left everything and decided to join music and came to the city of Mumbai.

Today the result of that penance, dedication and passion is in front of everyone. Raksha’s debut album “Manzil – A Musical Journey” from T-Series was released and it has been a lifetime experience for her.

The post Raksha Shrivastava’s bouquet of 8 ghazals, “Manzil- A musical Journey” released by Rumi Jafry and Hariharan! first appeared on Latest News, Breaking News, National News, World News, India News, Bollywood News, Business News, Politics News, Sports News, Entertainment News - CineBuster.

Indo-polish movie ‘No means No’ has an ensemble cast including Gulshan Grover (he has worked in more than 500 Hollywood and Bollywood movies), Deep Raj Rana (Indian), Sharad Kapoor (Indian), Bollywood action hero Dhruv Verma (Indian), Natalia Bak (Polish), Anna Guzik (Polish), Slywia Czech (Polish), actor Pawel Czech (Polish), actor Jersey Handzlik (Polish), Nazia Hassan (actor Sanjay Dutt’s niece), Anna Ador (Polish) and Kat Kristian (Polish).

Debutant Bollywood Action Hero Dhruv Verma was trained in Action sequences by Bollywood Superstar Sanjay Dutt and Hollywood action star Steven Seagal. He’s been groomed by Preity Zinta who’s given a classic James Bond look. Dhruv is considered the heartthrob of Poland. Besides Action and grooming Dhruv has learned the ropes of Dance from our very own Shyamak Davar, since Music and Dance are the integral part of the film.

He has already gained recognition in Hollywood. His next film ‘The Good Maharaja’ – a World War 2 story is already on the floors and is scheduled to be shot in Poland, Russia, Germany and in Gujarat in India.

The music of this upcoming blockbuster film is given by legendary singer Hariharan while his sons  Akshay Hariharan is the music producer of ‘No Means No’ and Karan Hariharan is one of the singers of the movie. Shreya Ghoshal ‘s melodious voice will be a treat to hear  in this indo -Polish film ‘No Means No’.

The post Dhruv Verma is being groomed by Preity Zinta. given a classic James Bond look in ‘No Means No’ first appeared on Latest News, Breaking News, National News, World News, India News, Bollywood News, Business News, Politics News, Sports News, Entertainment News - CineBuster.

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