Want to highlight local talent of Andamans: Bollywood singers Sukhwinder & Neha

Bollywood singing stars Sukhwinder Singh and Neha Bhasin, who are set to perform here as part of the celebrations to mark the 126th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, said they will try to highlight local talents of the archipelago.Bhasins performance is scheduled for Sunday, while Singh has a show here on January 23, the day the legendary freedom fighter was born.

Bollywood singing stars Sukhwinder Singh and Neha Bhasin, who are set to perform here as part of the celebrations to mark the 126th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, said they will try to highlight local talents of the archipelago.

Bhasin's performance is scheduled for Sunday, while Singh has a show here on January 23, the day the legendary freedom fighter was born. Sukhwinder said he is keen to showcase local talents, and will try to perform with such artistes on January 23. Bhasin urged the youths of the Union territory to preserve the culture and beauty of the archipelago. "I would love to promote the local singing talents in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, especially the folk singers," she said.

A series of events are being organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs from January 17 to mark the birth anniversary of Netaji, under the banner of 'Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav'. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be present as the chief guest at the Port Blair event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on January 23 virtually inaugurate a model of a proposed memorial dedicated to Netaji, which will be set up on Ross Island in the archipelago.

"I don't have words to express how lucky I am to get the opportunity to be part of the iconic event in Port Blair. For me, this will not just be a musical programme, but a 'mahayagna'. Each song will be dedicated to those who sacrificed their lives for the country's Independence,'' Singh told PTI over telephone. This will be a 'mahayagna' for all those who died in Cellular Jail, and for the jawans who fearlessly provide security to citizens of the country, he said. After arriving here during the day, the singer will visit the Cellular Jail to pay homage to the freedom fighters. ''I will sing some of my favourite songs like 'Kar Har Maidaan Fateh', 'Chak De India' and 'Jai Ho','' he said.

In an audio note sent to PTI, Bhasin said, "It is a privilege and honour to be part of this celebration. As an artiste, my best offering to my country and to our freedom fighters is music. We are really looking forward to it.

"We are trying to figure out which songs will be played at the event... the new ones or the old hits. One of my all-time favourite songs is 'Maa Tujhe Salam' (sung by A R Rahman). It is a song that resonates through generations," she said.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the supreme commander of the Indian National Army, visited the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as head of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind during the Second World War, when it was under the occupation of the Japanese Imperial Force.

The freedom icon hoisted the national tricolour for the first time on Indian soil in the islands on December 30, 1943.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)