Legends unite for BBC’s Children In Need appeal

MUSIC fans will be transported back to the golden era of bhangra as the industry’s biggest stars unite for charity.

Some of yesteryears biggest and most loved Bhangra music stars will collaborate in a special one-off for Birmingham’s BBC’s Children In Need charity appeal tomorrow.

The collaboration, called Unity, will bring together an extraordinary line up of legendary artists from the 70s and 80s including Premi, Heera, Apna Sangeet, Holle Holle, Shava Shava, Azaad, DCS and Mangal Singh of Chirag Pehchan.

The artists have recorded a special track, called “Asi Haan Punjabi” (We are Punjabi), which will be performed alongside Pudsey Bear at the BBC Asian Network’s Children in Need Main Event in Birmingham on Friday 20 November.

The track was masterminded by the former member of Premi, Raaju, who is best known for producing a number of hit tracks as well as the soundtrack for hit British film ‘East is East’.

The track will also be available to buy with all proceeds going to Children In Need.

“I came up with the concept to reunite some of the biggest bhangra bands from the 80s because I believe they have still got life in them today,” Raaju said.

“A lot of the new generation listen to their music but don’t really know who they are and now they can see what they look like!  This is probably the first and last time they will all perform together on one song so it was a great opportunity to do something good for charity.”

The music video, releasing at the end of November, features all the legends coming together on one stage, with cameos from some of their supporters including Jaz Dhami, Navin Kundra, Des-C, H-Dhami, Kala Preet and Nirmal Sidhu.

Additional mixes of the track are being created by DJ H, Dr Zeus and Kami K.

Talking about the remix, Kami K said: “Raaju gave me a low-down on the track and asked me to do a remix of it and I wasn’t going to say no!  I thought it would be great to go back to the source of bhangra music in the UK.”

The city’s Children In Need extravaganza will be held at Millennium Point.

It will broadcast at various times during BBC One’s coverage of the annual Children In Need show, presented by Sir Terry Wogan.

BBC Asian Network presenter, Murtz said: “The BBC Asian Network are proud to be supporting the Children in Need Event this year in Birmingham.  I’m so excited to see such great legends come together and perform the Unity track on the night. Look out for myself, Tommy and Adil as we introduce the best acts of 2009 on the main stage.”