Pakistani and Indian talent join forces for concert

DUBAI // India's most popular singer will perform at an Eid concert in Dubai on Friday that will bring together leading Indian and Pakistani musicians. Organisers say they hope the event will help to bridge gap between the two countries as well as celebrating Eid. The concert, called Sangam or fusion in Hindi, "will be a fusion of talent from both countries," said Arjun Kumar of ARY Group, the organisers.

The highlight of the evening at the Dubai Aviation Club, will be Shaan, the popular Indian singer who has topped his country's music charts for years and has sung in several Bollywood blockbuster films. The other major attraction will be the two-member Pakistani band Strings. The up-and-coming Pakistani band Overload will also perform, and the opening act will be 2live, a Dubai band. "Dubai is a meeting ground for expatriates from these two nations and they all live in peace and harmony here.

"We thought there is no better platform than music to highlight this harmony and reiterate the desire for peace on both sides," said Mr Kumar. The concert is part of the Government's "Eid in Dubai" initiative. "This event is our way of sharing and spreading the festive feeling of 'Eid in Dubai' throughout the city, especially since it hosts a multicultural society," said Yousuf Mubarak of the Dubai Shopping Festival Office.

Tickets cost Dh150 ($41), Dh250 and Dh500 and are available at many retail outlets, including Sind Punjab restaurants, Karachi Darbar, Bombay Chowpaty, Pak Ghazi and ARY Jewellery outlets. The gates open at 8pm. pmenon@thenational.ae