InfoAnda - Indian farmers seek fame through Bhangra beat

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Critics outraged at Italian court's rape ruling | | 3 February 2012
Tweaked about fake tweets, Idaho gov joins Twitter | 3 May 2009
Attacks in Afghanistan kill 3 kids, NATO soldier | 16 December 2010

Bangladesh blocks Facebook over caricatures | | 30 May 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Indian farmers seek fame through Bhangra beat

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Weekend Edition World Indian farmers seek fame through Bhangra beat AFP - 2 hours 23 minutes ago Send IM Story Print Indian farmers seek fame through Bhangra beat PATHANKOT, India (AFP) - – As Balbir Jagga drives a tractor around his farm in northwestern India, he dreams that the fields he tills will propel him to international music stardom. Jagga, like thousands of other amateur singers in Punjab state, sees Bhangra music as a route out of rural life -- and he is saving all his income, and even selling off a small plot of land, to make his debut music video and album. "For years, I have been a mundane farmer, buying seeds, waiting for the rains, harvesting crops, season after season," said Jagga at his farm in Pathankot, 150 miles from Punjab's state capital Chandigarh. "But in the evenings, I am a super Bhangra music star, recording songs for my album and planning a video shoot," he added with a smile. Jagga, 30, is one of many Punjabi villagers trying to repeat the success of Jasbir Jassi, Mika Singh and other big names as Bhangra dance music has become a major international music trend over the last 15 years. He has penned more than a dozen songs in Gurumuki script used to write the Punjabi language and now he hopes his music video will be the next step to stardom. Jagga admits that he is taking a big gamble investing all his savings in the video, which will cost more than 10,000 dollars. "You may laugh at my venture but for the people of Punjab, music is the biggest high and I am addicted to it," he said. Bhangra originally began with Sikh farmers like Jagga singing folk songs to celebrate the arrival of the harvest season, before developing into popular music. It spread across India via Bollywood, where actors like Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan have often danced to its energetic beat, and has gained popularity in many other countries where Indians have emigrated. Today it often symbolises the extrovert, party-loving side of south Asian culture and attracts an international audience with dance competitions and radio stations in Britain, the United States and Canada. "Bhangra is an integral part of Punjab's everyday life," one of Jagga's heroes, Jasbir Jassi, told AFP. "We are crazy for our music and we have made the world go crazy for it too." In Punjab itself, at least 45 channels play non-stop Bhangra music -- often with videos from amateur singers hoping to make it big. The singers' telephone numbers are flashed on the bottom of the screen to allow viewers -- or perhaps even professional agents -- to book them for weddings and other festivities. "I have decided to get out of my Punjabi attire, wear a three-piece suit and shoot the music video in my village," said Jagga. "My songs portray my love for Punjab." Industry experts and owners of recording studios estimate that more than 10,000 Punjabi music albums are produced every year. "It is a mad race among farmers, students and even housewives to establish themselves as a singer. Everybody here wants to be signing autographs for fans," said Ramandeep Singh, manager at Josh, a 24-hour music channel in Chandigarh. Singh says many artists currently ruling the Bhangra scene in India such as Satinder Sartaj were once farmers. "Some clicked and became stars, but most have been forgotten and faded away," he said. Singh is now producing an album which will feature 12 farmers singing about the struggle and distress of amateur performers who cannot break into the glamour world they crave. Deepak Bali, owner of Plasma Records production company, admitted that the music industry has given a false hope to many Punjabis. "All the hype and over-exposure surrounding the billion dollar market has the potential to kill the craze for Bhangra," he said. "The quality talent has gone missing. Every village seems to boast three singers and four lyricists." But the dream lives on for many, including Sukhdev Kaur, a housewife and a mother of two who is due to release her album "Adventure Meri Life" (My Life Is An Adventure) next year. She sold her gold jewellery to produce the album, on which she sings love duets with her neighbour's son. "My husband is a farmer, he refused to help me so I decided to sell the gold," she said. "We are farmers but that does not mean we cannot be Bhangra stars." Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Studios: Tax breaks or no 'Hobbit' for New Zealand AP - Tuesday, October 26 Jean-Luc Godard will not collect honorary Oscar in person AFP - Tuesday, October 26 'Paranormal Activity 2' scares up box office bounty AFP - Tuesday, October 26 Chief conductor of Hungarian National Opera to step down AFP - Tuesday, October 26 Robbie Williams joins Take That to claim award AFP - Tuesday, October 26 News Search Top Stories Venezuela seizes local unit of US company Wozniacki top seed for WTA Championships Giant snakes, fish among spectacular species found in Amazon BP may close gas field over Iran sanctions: report Haiti cholera deaths slow but fear builds More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended It's a boy, and another boy for pop star Celine Dion Moon's 'treasure chest' includes silver Japanese joins the ranks of sequenced genomes Alonso wins in Korea, takes F1 championship lead EU close to embracing Serbia More Most Viewed » Time, like all good things, may come to an end: study Too much TV psychologically harms kids: study Iranian chocolate thief 'to have hand chopped off' Ancient galaxy is more than 13 billion light years away Moon's 'treasure chest' includes silver More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Weekend Edition Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo! Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Entertainment Photos Yahoo! News Network Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Karzai admits receiving 'bags of money' from Iran
Iran set to load fuel to core of first atomic plant |
Amazon says e-book sales of best-sellers double print
Dutch aid worker abducted in Afghanistan: officials
Dutch aid worker abducted in Afghanistan
US existing-home sales jump 10% in September
US defends Iraq record after WikiLeaks furor
Troops death toll in Afghanistan hits 600
"Hiccup Girl" Charged With Murder in Botched Florida Robbery
Karzai says his office gets cash from Iran, US
US newspaper circulation drops five percent
New Brazil poll shows Rousseff lead steady |
Taste Receptors On Lungs May Help Fight Asthma
Gunmen kidnap Dutch aid worker and Afghan driver
Virgin CEO Opens Runway At New Mexico Spaceport
German auto sector voices concern over rare-earth spat
NATO: raid in south Afghanistan kills 15 militants
Boxer Maintains Narrow Lead In California Senate Race
Naples magistrates see mafia role in waste protest |
French group Gemalto files patent infingement suit in US
NPR Addresses Williams Firing
Sony presses 'stop' on Walkman in Japan
25 may have been killed in Afghanistan airstrike
New Hampshire Paper Refuses To Publish Gay Wedding Announcement
Fed To Reveal Probe of Mortgage Banks' Foreclosure Procedures
Vietnam blogger still held after jail term ends: watchdog
Justin Bieber Fragrance Line Coming Soon To Dog Tags And Wristbands
Italy slaps restrictions on Google's Street View
Afghan President Seen As Ignoring U.S. Proposals On Private Security Firms
Rachael Ray To Host "Halloween Bash In 3-D"
French group Gemalto files patent infingement suit in US
Chief conductor of Hungarian National Opera to step down
Robbie Williams joins Take That to claim award
Sony presses 'stop' on Walkman in Japan
Scorsese to attend Rome showing of 'La Dolce Vita'
Sprint's Tab is cheaper but requires a contract |
Taiwan-China name row erupts at Tokyo film festival
Directors blame filmmaking crisis on Internet |
Major 7.7 quake strikes Indonesia
Newlyweds Brand, Perry leave India for Maldives
Tesla upbeat on Japan business, opens showroom
Michael Jackson top-earning dead celebrity: report |
Directors blame filmmaking crisis on Internet |
Christa Wolf wins Thomas Mann literature prize |
BP may close gas field over Iran sanctions: report
BoE governor warns new banking rules not enough
Iran inserts fuel into nuclear plant core: report |
US defends Iraq record after WikiLeaks furor
US defends Iraq record after WikiLeaks furor
Wozniacki top seed for WTA Championships
Government warns French strike threatens recovery
Once hot Digg slashes staff by over one-third
Giant snakes, fish among spectacular species found in Amazon
Ukrainian opposition claims fraud ahead of poll
Karzai says his office gets cash from Iran, US
Venezuela seizes local unit of US company
Fiat boss criticises Italy, draws angry reactions
Myanmar culture evolves despite junta's tight grip |
Afghan president will disband private guards
Haiti cholera deaths slow but fear builds
Madonna to open 'Hard Candy' health club chain
Brazil candidates spar in debate, Rousseff in lead |
US approves world's biggest solar energy project
Canadian ex-child soldier pleads guilty at Guantanamo
N.Zealand PM, Hollywood execs in Hobbit deadlock
NASA chief says pleased with China visit
BP boss says group will not quit US over oil disaster
Climate change to hit Asia's poor hardest: W.Bank
Jean-Luc Godard will not collect honorary Oscar in person
Indonesia warns farmers to flee simmering volcano
Nobel prize winner's wife asks friends to collect
Australian tattooist charged over rude doodle
Departing Microsoft visionary sees post-PC world |
"Modern Family" And "Grey's Anatomy":Highest Gainings In DVR Numbers
Aussie shoe-thrower irritated by former premier
Floods kill 56 in Thailand
Online travel companies oppose Google, ITA deal: report |
U.S. Denies WikiLeaks Claims Of Abetting Torture In Iraq, Cautions Iran On Meddling
'Military regime' in battle for Venezuela's beautiful prize
Shares in China railway firm slump on Saudi deal
Web campaign nabs China hit-and-run suspect
Indian farmers seek fame through Bhangra beat
U.S. Officials Weigh In On Iranian Cash In Kabul
GE in 750 mln dollar turbine deal with Reliance
Italian seaside town bans 'scanty clothing'
Shooting sharpens tensions with Chinese in Zambia
Japan cabinet agrees major stimulus budget
Global food fest urges return to farmers' 'common sense'
US vows to complete S.Korea trade deal
Taiwan-held atoll fends off China fishermen
South Korean trade chief optimistic on US talks
Japan approves extra budget for stimulus package
Not your grandfather's retirement: 'boomers' to hit 65
Zimbabwe eyes return from cricket Test exile
China opens Shanghai-Hangzhou ultra fast rail line
Jean-Luc Godard will not collect honorary Oscar in person
'Paranormal Activity 2' scares up box office bounty
Nissan introduces luxury hybrid, doubles mileage
Chinese investment soars in Brazil, with eye on resources
Japan, US sign 'open skies' deal
Train looks to Shake Up Christmas for Coca-Cola |
Johnny Cash memorabilia up for auction in L.A. |
New Zealand won't get into Hobbit bidding war |
Jean-Luc Godard to skip honorary Oscar ceremony |
Africa's tech explosion promises economic growth
Iran acknowledges 'assistance' for Afghanistan
Paul, World Cup 'psychic' octopus, dies in Germany
Indonesian tsunami kills 108, hundreds missing |
Iraq's Tareq Aziz sentenced to death |
Surprise British growth data soothes double-dip fears
Iran begins fuelling Bushehr nuclear reactor
UBS shares fall as profit disappoints markets
Special report: Faked in China: Inside the pirates' web |
French students march as pensions strike loses steam
Indian firm Venky's plan Blackburn takeover
Iraq court sentences Tareq Aziz to death
Pakistan says time not right for anti-Taliban assault |
Ferry Corsten's 'Once Upon A Night 2' Tour Comes to Miami
Iraq's Tareq Aziz sentenced to death
UK military interrogations may break Geneva rules |
Health Experts Look To Barbershops To Educate Black Men About High Blood Pressure
Iran begins inserting fuel into nuclear plant core
Iran to try two people accused of spying for Israel |
Iran fuels Bushehr nuclear plant
Trial Begins Of Man Charged In Florida Couple's Murder
French fuel strikes falter, union wants talks |
Fish Oil May Reduce Risk Of Gum Disease
Bank Of England Supports Break Up Of British Banks
Philippines reviews security deal with U.S. after rape case |
Bomb kills 4 police in west Afghanistan
Some 100 victims' remains found in Bosnia-Serbia search |
4 Afghan policemen killed by bomb blast
Volcano Merapi erupts in Indonesia
Indonesia tsunami death toll tops 100
China urges order as anti-Japan protest flares
Special report
Indonesia quake kills 23: disaster agency
Take That announce first tour since Robbie reunion
Obama touts job creation as midterm elections near
Pakistani stocks end lower; rupee firms; o/n rates down
S.Korea to spend billions of dollars to boost birthrate
Asian shares mostly lower ahead of key Fed meeting
Sri Lanka appeal over death-row maid in Saudi
Sony rally shortlived as speculation dismissed |
Indonesian tsunami kills 108 with hundreds missing
Studios: Tax breaks or no 'Hobbit' for New Zealand
Indian firm Venky's plan Blackburn takeover
Intel opens first chip plant in China |
Q+A-What to expect from IMF's next meeting in Pakistan
India says growth returning to pre-crisis levels
Garmin and Asustek in new phone cooperation |
Nissan launches hybrid under shadow of strong yen
TI sees PC and TV weakness for few quarters |
S.Korea won slips on caution over capital measures
China opens Shanghai-Hangzhou high-speed rail link
Cebu Pacific makes record debut on Philippine IPO
Two S.Korea cbankers voted for 25bps hike in Sept
Tsunami warning relaxed after Indonesia quake
Terrified Indonesians flee erupting volcano
World Chefs: Flay learns from losing to other chefs |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01