‘Bollywood Chorus’ invites participants to sing familiar
Bollywood songs in a group setting
VINIKA VISWAMBHARAN
NT BUZZ
When the COVID-19 pandemic brought life to a standstill, it also gave many people time to reconsider what mattered to them. Singer and actor Sharad Jagtiani was among them. After years of balancing acting and music, he used that period to rethink his priorities, which eventually led to ‘Bollywood Chorus’, a community singing experience that is now finding an audience in Goa.
Before focusing on music, Jagtiani worked as an actor, appearing in advertisements for several major brands and in the web series ‘Scam 1992’. Music, though, was always part of the background. He says, “I used to release songs on and off on my YouTube channel ‘Sharad’s World‘ but it was never the main focus. During COVID-19, like many people, I had time to reflect on what I really wanted to do and I realised I preferred music to acting.”
He moved to Bengaluru during the pandemic to be with his family and spent more time writing, composing and producing music. This changed the direction of his work after he later moved to Goa, where he now is based in Mapusa.
The idea for ‘Bollywood Chorus’ came from his approach as a performer, which has always involved audience participation. “My shows have always been interactive,” he explains. “I never liked standing on stage and just singing. I would involve people through quizzes, conversations or by getting them to sing along. When I moved to Goa, I noticed there was interest in Bollywood music and many people who had moved here were also looking to meet others.”
At ‘Bollywood Chorus’, participants learn a Bollywood song during the session and then perform it together as a group. The focus is on participation rather than getting everything right. Participants are guided through the song using backing tracks adjusted for ease of follow-through. Jagtiani says, “The idea is to make it light and accessible.”
He chooses familiar songs that carry personal associations for people. Tracks like ‘Pehla Nasha’, ‘Dil Toh Pagal Hai’ and ‘Neele Neele Ambar Par’ have been part of earlier sessions. “These are songs people have grown up with,” he says, adding that they may have heard their parents sing them or relate them to a phase of their lives. “There is already an emotional link before the singing even begins.”
Unlike karaoke, which emphasises individual performers, these sessions reduce that pressure. Jagtiani says, “Karaoke can sometimes have an ‘I can sing well’ vibe. ‘Bollywood Chorus’ is more about saying we can sing together and feel good together.”
The response, he says, has been steady. What began as an experiment has become a recurring event, with the fourth edition scheduled for this Sunday. “The first one was such a hit. I remember people arriving a bit reserved. By the end of the session, they were singing, laughing and even dancing. There was a lady who seemed quite low when she arrived because of the passing of her cat, but she was dancing by the end of the session,” he recalls.
As more time is spent online, Jagtiani says he values spaces that bring people together in person. “People have told me they want to go out more after attending these sessions,” he says, adding that social media can sometimes become an escape from what is happening outside. “Events like these get people to step out and spend time together.”
(‘Bollywood Chorus’ will be held on June 28 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Sadhana Dell ’Arte, Merces.)
