|
Making A Song and Dance Of It
Radhika Shukla, a doctor by profession, wants to use her training in music and choreography to create awareness. She's started with a song on drug abuse...DEEPA VENKATRAMAN
FROM Bollywood numbers to semi-classical music, this choreographer-cumsinger has performed at gatherings across the globe. But the urge to use her artistic vision to empower people to take up a stand on various social issues has made Dr Radhika Shukla, an Andheri resident, come up with a brand new venture, a music video with an anti-drugs message.
The seed of an idea was sown following discussions with Dr Nimish S, a homoeopath and professor at CMP Homoeopathic Medical College. Nimish says: "Many substance abuse addicts who I have treated belong to well-todo families, a thought that was always very disturbing for me. When I discussed this with Radhika, she thought of projecting the concept through music. While we were wondering how to go about it, noted Bollywood film director and writer Nabhkumar Raju guided us through the making of the video and also volunteered to direct it." The conceptualization began in September 2007 and in the next two months, the video was shot and ready. The duo also got technical support from the Narcotics Control Bureau, but there were several other hurdles. Radhika says: "At one time, we realised that we were severely short of funds. But two major companies helped us financially and the rest we spent from our own pockets as we wanted to complete the project." The result is a moving song titled ‘To Drugs, Just Say No', scripted by Dr Nisheeth Chandra. The story revolves around an alcoholic's son who becomes a drug addict and then dwells on how a tragedy brings him out of his addiction. The music is by Jaydip Jaipurwala and Sanjay Jaipurwala and the video was shot in various places in Mumbai. A group of six young children, all trained in classical music, accompanied Radhika both behind the microphone and in front of the camera. The most touching experience for the team was an interactive session with young people enrolled at the Kripa Foundation Rehabilitation Centre for alcoholics and drug addicts, at Bandra. Recalling her experience there, Radhika says: "There were several root causes for such addiction such as insecurity, peer pressure, depression and so on. But all of them were keen to get out of the habit. When you get close to them, you realise and sympathise with them. Overall, it was a very sad atmosphere." Malaika Arora Khan and Arbaaz Khan are to launching the CD of her song on Monday. By the end of this year, Radhika plans to come up with an album highlighting several such social issues. "We plan to give VCDs of our video to all schools and colleges to create awareness," says Radhika, adding that she hopes corporate firms will come forward with their support. Next in line: A song and video on female foeticide. "The song has already been recorded." |
