Following the resounding success of last year's debut event, ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ is gearing up to cast its musical spell on Auckland once again.
The eagerly anticipated sequel, ‘Dil Chahta Hai Returns– Unforgettable Melodies to Modern Classics’, promises an evening of unforgettable melodies, paying homage to more than six decades of Bollywood songs and India's iconic album tracks.
Organised by singer and songwriter Rachit Bhatia of Rachit Music, the show will take place on October 7 at Dorothy Winstone Centre. It aims to create a unique experience where different generations within families can come together to celebrate the timeless allure of music.
Regarding his inspiration, Bhatia tells The Indian Weekender, "We wanted to build on, refine and supercharge last year's debut sold-out success of Dil Chahta Hai. It will be a highlight reel of the best Indian film and pop album music over the last six decades and more.
“Plus, there are a couple of surprises hidden in there. The main motivation behind this musical extravaganza is to create a shared experience for families, where each generation can appreciate and enjoy the songs of their respective eras. We want our audience to have a wonderful time together as a family."
As with last year's show, part of the proceeds will be dedicated to supporting Starship Foundation, which plays a vital role in nursing Kiwi children back to health.
This year, the show will see performances by a 14-member strong team featuring some of New Zealand’s well-known singers, including Rachit, Arpita Chanda, Ritika Badakere Puri, Ankita Ghatani and Kapil Bhagat among others. Backing up the vocal prowess are names such as Hemant Thaker, Cloyd D'mello, Nigal Kishore, Prashant Dutt, Don Dilantha, Everard Fernandes, and Tomomi Johnston. The emcee of the event is RJ Junoo.
The event promises a nearly four-hour-long immersion into the world of Indian melodies, from beloved classics to electric dance numbers.
Shifting the topic to ticket sales, Rachit informs that the response has been “overwhelmingly positive", with tickets selling out fast.
“If you are a fan of Bollywood music or enjoyed last year's performance, this is an event you won't want to miss. Please book your tickets early, though. Don't wait, as we do not expect these last few tickets to be available very long.”
Reflecting on his 21 years in New Zealand's music scene, Rachit thanks the New Zealand audience for their unwavering support.
He reminisced about his early days on stage, his time on NZ Idol as a teenager, and the privilege of sharing the stage with internationally recognised artists such as Shaan, Sukhwinder Singh, Harjeet Mehendi and Sangeet Mishra.
"I want to give a big shoutout to all my mentors and organisers who helped me in my journey," says Rachit.
As for the future, when asked about the allure of Bollywood playback, he admitted it was a dream. “You know Bollywood playback is considered the most amazing achievement for a singer, so I'd be lying if I said that it wasn't a dream of mine.
“But my true passion is performing live for audiences, so at least for now, the focus is on singing live and bringing memorable performances to our New Zealand audience. As for the future, who knows, but I'm sure it'll be connected to music.”
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What: Dil Chahta Hai Returns - Unforgettable Melodies to Modern Classics
When: October 7, 2023
Where: Dorothy Winstone Centre, 16 Howe Street, Freemans Bay
Timings: Show kicks off 6.30pm, doors open 5.30pm
Tickets available at TicketBazaar start from $30, or contact Rajesh at 0221341234