Mooruth strives to elevate listeners
RENOWNED singer Shashika Mooruth will be in Durban this week for two concerts.
Let’s Duet on Friday night will pay homage to playback singers Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh.
The Bollywood Style on Saturday evening will see Mooruth blend elements of classical, pop and jazz, among other genres of music, to create something original.
The concerts will be staged at the iZulu Theatre at Sibaya and will feature singer L Nitesh Kumar and Indian-born musicians Shrikant Pabrekar, Vikramjit Singh, Tuhin Choudhary and Shubham Singh.
“I chose musicians who have experience not only in the recording aspect, but live stage performances,” said Mooruth.
She said her base guitarist, Choudhary, had been part of the band that backed contestants in the singing competition, Indian Idol, and her keyboardist and band leader, Pabrekar, worked with playback singer Shreya Ghoshal, and had 13 years’ experience in international performances.
About the shows under the Urja Music banner, Mooruth said: “Let’s Duet highlights the nostalgic duets by Mukesh and Mangeshkar. This concept as a live stage performance is a first for South Africa. The Bollywood Style has something for everyone, from the retro to contemporary, Sufi to rock, and a bit of jazz.”
Mooruth said she would perform a Celine Dion song with a Bollywood touch.
She said music should be treated delicately in its presentation because it was a spiritual connection.
And as a result, she strived to transform and elevate the listeners, “or else I will be disrespecting the divinity in music”.
Mooruth, who has been living in India for many years, said she took pride in putting together events for audiences in South Africa, especially those in her hometown of Durban.
“I treat my events holistically, in that every aspect of it is interconnected. I plan a theme, then content, and design the presentation around that. This includes the decor and the artists who will accompany me, until it unfolds on stage in all its glory.”
● Tickets, priced between R150 and R300, are available from Computicket, Shoprite/ Checkers, the Sibaya box-office, Sunrise Fruiterers in Overport (031 500 4709); Manilal Ratanjee in Chatsworth (031 401 1665); and Roopanands in Springfield Park (031 579 1534).