Mumbai is a city battling with the nuisance of many problems and one of them is really the over population of kabootar (dove). There are kabootar khanas (where dove can be fed) and people eager to feed. Everyone is aware of the diseases and allergies caused by kabootars and their droppings, yet the universal symbol of peace lives unchallenged, promoting peace. So, it is not surprising that a Peace Anthem using this symbol of peace – KABOOTAR originates in the city. Trying to thread together a social change, through ‘WINGS OF FREEDOM- Kabootar’ in an era of growing intolerance. This time the dove is not in a politically rally but among the common man. (Link https://goo.gl/iJI14C 6.46 Minutes)
An initiative of Colors and Equal Rights Music Project, , the peace anthem was released on the Republic Day – January 26, 2016. Behind it is a well-known creative mind, Manish Bhatt, Founder Director, Scarecrow Communications and Eddie T Avil who has composed it.
The song is sung well and it does get on your mind. Unfortunately, the message ‘When Will Peace Finally Grace the World/ Kab utrega dharti par, ein kabootar’ is a bit too subtle. Some may say it’s the way it should be. The audience completes it in their minds with many things unanswered. Unfortunately, like always we end up layering it with religious hues in the name of diversity. Once again religion is the backdrop to erratic peace. May be we cannot or should not see reality in any other way.
We may have lost connect with peace. May be hatred and distrust are the overpowering emotion. Yet, I am not surprised when people see ‘Peace Anthem’ as just a ‘feel-good’ factor and nothing more. Expecting it to unite the nation and accelerate initiatives towards peace is asking too much. And we definitely don’t need any more sensitisation to the subject.
It will be interesting to know the expectations of people behind it. Are they convinced on the potential? Or they are satisfied with creative orgasm?
Manish Bhatt says: ‘‘Peace is a subject which needs to be reinforced into the world constantly and consistently… Poetry and music is ancient arts and often used in conveying public messages. At a broad level, it should remind that peace is inevitable for our planet. Anthem is a Public expression of music. It always works, if they are done with right spirit.”
I review the execution. Am I the only person who sees the message too layered and subtle for the audience all around?
Manish differs: ‘We often underestimate of intelligence and intellectuality of mass Indians and so this experiment should also revive the consumption of poetry and meaningful music by masses’.
He sights two other anthems as an example (both on his show reel), which worked! ‘Respect The National Anthem’ (Link https://goo.gl/Sr46LS 2.06 minutes) and ‘Jityu Hamesha Gujarat’ an anthem for Gujarat sung by 25 Gujarati celebrities (link https://goo.gl/HXWMI6 4.18 minutes) and I will let you decide. The reach for the peace anthem is banking on 13 million followers and digital subscribers of Colors and social media getting the first exposure and doing some magic.
I agree that ‘Not only Pathankot or Paris, and that the entire world needs peace’. But the launch of the peace anthem as the first output of ‘Equal Rights Music Project’ (pioneered by Manish Bhatt and Eddie T Avil) on Republic Day, to me sounds more of an event opportunity than peace initiative.
As the name suggests, Equal Rights Music Project is a music platform where professionals from across the music industry can come together to create original work. All rights of the produced piece are equally distributed amongst all key contributors. Not just the composer, lyricist or singer but also to Sound Engineer or Instrument player. As per the team, no better subject than peace to align the first song with the spirit of the platform.
I know, if nothing else at least such a concept will promote PEACE among contributing musicians.
This was first published in mxmindia.com
