Friday 19 / April / 2024
Muscat: Vipul Mehta, who shot to fame by winning “Indian Idol 6” is joining the sensational musician brother-duo, Salim-Sulaiman, who will make their Oman debut at the City Amphitheatre, Qurum on February 19.
Mehta has also made his playback debut with the Bollywood film, “Wedding Pulaav,” which released on October 16. He was selected as the winner of the reality TV show “Indian Idol 6” in 2012. After that, he has never looked back.
Following his win, he released his debut album, “Hello Namaste Sat Sri Akal” and later his debut single “Rowaan Mein,” which was well received. He has also performed live at Coke Studio.
Mehta learned classical singing since he was eight years old and in 2008, he became a finalist at the Amul STAR Voice of India programme’s second season, but could not make it to the final three. In 2012, he applied to Indian Idol 6 and won the sixth season with co-finalist Devendra Pal Singh, 17, becoming a runner-up and Amit Kumar standing third. His debut single “Rowaan Mein” was written and composed by Asad Chohan and produced by Ali Mustafa.
He will now join Salim-Sulaiman, who have composed music for more than 100 Bollywood films and television shows, along with popular Bollywood singer, Sweta Pandit.
Akshay Chowdhary, Director of Light and Shadow Enterprises said, “We are extremely happy to bring the dynamic duo that has been scoring music for Hindi films for a long time now. They are among India’s top music composers, having scored for more than 100 films including “Chak De India”, “Band Baaja Baaraat”, “Kurbaan”, “Heroine”, “Fashion”, “Aaja Nachle” and “Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi”, “Fashion”, “Iqbal “among others.”
The Salim-Sulaiman concert will have an ensemble of 25 musicians performing on stage. “Some top singers from Bollywood, including top female singer Shweta Pandit will be accompanying them,” Chowdhary said.
Steeped in a family tradition of music as the sons of composer and veteran of the film industry Sadruddin Merchant, Salim mastered the piano at the Trinity College of Music in London, while Sulaiman took up tabla training with legends, such as Taufiq Qureshi and Ustad Zakir Hussain.
They have also composed several records, incorporating cinematic, folk, electronic and Sufi influences in their music. “They have really redefined the music scene in India,” Chowdhary said.
The programme is brought to Oman by Oman’s event management agency Light and Shadow Enterprises.
The presenter of the concert is Minara, a product of Areej Vegetable Oils and Derivatives (AVOD) S.A.O.G. Mitsubishi is driving
the event.
Other sponsoring partners are R&B, Mobicell and Huawie. Tanuf Water and Effect will be the official refreshment for the event, Tim Hortons, Jet Airways, Foodlands Restaurant, AXA Insurance, Talentz Centre and the Times of Oman are the supporting partners of the event.
“Over the years, we have made an effort to redefine entertainment in Oman. Concerts, such as Temptations Reloaded with Shahrukh Khan and Katrina, Akon’s Live Concert and Salman Khan’s event, which we have organised in the past, have proved our organisation skills, set up abilities, production calibre and eye to detail. Continuing with the tradition, we want this to be the biggest concert of the year,” said Chowdhary.
Currently, tickets for the concert are on sale at R&B (Ruwi and MGM), Foodlands Restaurant (Al Khuwair) and the Mitsubishi Showroom (Azaiba). “Tickets are priced at OMR40, 20 and 10 so rush to the outlets before they sell out,” Chowdhary added.
