Javed Ali on ZEE TV- ‘Ek Desh, Ek Raag’ Initiative: It's a different experience!

Zee TV's Sa Re Ga Ma Pa crossing its 25-year milestone in 2020, is coming up with an industry first initiative, Ek Desh Ek Raag, to help humanity rise above the gloom of the pandemic through the power of music.

This Industry-first initiative by ZEE - ‘Ek Desh, Ek Raag’ will see the leading media & entertainment powerhouse leveraging its network strength with a 25-hour Fund Raiser Music Concert, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Live-athon, on digital with over 350 performances across 11 ZEE Social Pages that captures the vibrancy of sur, taal and spirit of every Indian sub-culture. Javed Ali will be performing during the Live-athon as well as the Ek Desh Ek Raag concert along with artistes like Udit Narayan, Richa Sharma, Himesh Reshammiya, Shaan, Alka Yagnik, Kumar Sanu, Amaal Maallik, Armaan Malik, Sourav Ganguly, Vijay Prakash, Kamal Khan and Debojit. 

We got in touch with Javed Ali to where he spoke about this initiative by Zee Tv, 'Ek Desh, Ek Raag'. Have a look: 

Talking about the initiative, he said, "First of all I am very fortunate to be a part of the live-athon on the digital media. A lot of artists will perform and I'm also a part of that, it's a first initiative by Sa Re Ga Ma Pa that they are doing it on such a big level with so many artists and for such a long time. I would like to congratulate the team of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. I would also perform on 24th at 7. So it will be a very great collaboration with the artists."

In this lockdown phase, as this liveathon will go-on for the entire day, this will be a huge factor of entertainment for the fans. Your take on that?

It will go on for the entire day, so I would like to say that people who are there at their homes in the lockdown, will get their mind fresh. It is done for them only. We have brought this concert by keeping the lockdown in mind. It has also been given the name of the lockdown concert, Mobile concert. 

Even you started off Sa Re Ga Ma Pa as a mentor and then as a jugde, so how has your journey been being associated with the show?

My association has been very good. My experience has been really good with the team of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. It gave us a platform to reach every home and gave us the opportunity to showcase our personalities to the people. 

Being a virtual concert, are any preparations or are there any challenges that you are facing because the entire thing is shoot from home.

Yes, there were a few difficulties when you shoot at home because to go according to the script is different from what you do personally. So there used to be many hassles which we had to reconfirm again and again, that we should do or not. So there were challenges in between but on the whole, this concert is going to be great and you will enjoy it a lot. It's a different thing, a different experience, no one would have had this experience previously in their lives but this is a different thing. Thanks to technology that has kept us connected even in the lockdown. 

Signing off, he added, "I would only like to say that you all should stay at your home. Stay home, stay safe. Stay positive and don't let negativity come near you. The entire world is looking after to find the treatment of covid-19 and just stay positive and stay happy."

‘Ek Desh Ek Raag’ will start with the Live-athon on 23rd May with a 25-hour Music Marathon on digital. The 25 Year milestone will culminate into a grand Ek Desh Ek Raag concert on 24th May, 7 PM onwards in 10 national languages across 19 ZEE channels with the most iconic faces of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa singing from the confines of their homes.