The Bay Area will reverberate with the music of Bollywood, classical, jazz, and rock as Vijay Prakash, the incredible voice of “Jai Ho” of Academy Award-winning Slumdog Millionaire fame, takes center stage with Shadrach Solomon and H.N. Bhaskar and plays to a mainstream crowd that revels in this offering from Bollywood that has taken the international music world by storm.
Prakash is trained in the classical tradition, but made the transition into Bollywood in the 1990s. He has sung over 250 songs in more than six major languages, and has teamed up with prolific music composer A.R. Rahman again for the movie Blue. His recent hit “Manmohini Morey” from Yuvvraj showcases his considerable talent in bringing classical music to the silver screen. He has sung playback for many popular actors such as Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, and Anil Kapoor.
“I am excited and honored to be part of a concert that will benefit our brothers and sisters in the community,” says Prakash.
Accompanying him will be H.N. Bhaskar and Shadrach Solomon, both highly accomplished musicians and composers in their own right. They have worked with international celebrities such as Rahman, Pandit Ravishankar, John McLaughlin, Grammy Award-winner Vikku Vinayakaram, and others.
Ishaara, a coed 10-member dance troupe from Berkeley, join the artists in this joyful concert. Ishaara has competed at state and national levels and won several intercollegiate competitions in recent years. Most recently they appeared on “America’s Got Talent” to great success in the semifinals. Their unique blend of vibrant costumes, powerful music, and dynamic performances make them a joy to watch.
Rotary Club of Cupertino and Xumri Group partner to bring this exclusive evening of music and joy for causes that affect families and children in Indian communities.
Elizabeth Gallegos, president of Rotary Club of Cupertino, says, “What a fantastic way to celebrate our future by celebrating our diversity through the music and dance of this charity concert. Partnering together to raise funds for very worthy projects is what Rotary does best and we have a great history of leveraging those funds to do important humanitarian projects.” The proceeds of this concert will directly benefit PolioPlus, the Rotary’s dedication to eradicate polio worldwide (India is a major beneficiary), and support the RotaCare clinic of Mountain View, which specifically helps underserved women and children obtain basic medical care. Xumri Group, LLC, is a Silicon Valley-based global conduit services company that represents American and Indian businesses.
It is indeed fitting that the symbolism of “Jai Ho” the victory song, is the triumph of the underdog. It is a hymn to life and a symbol of hope. The proceeds raised by the incredible voice of “Jai Ho” will bring solace to those in need.
Saturday, Nov. 14. Flint Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino. $10, $15, $25, $50. (408) 517-9000. (408) 773-6252. www.xumri.com.http://sjrotary.org.