The Dharavi Project –Rahman, Shekhar Kapur and Universal Music to discover and nurture talents of Dharavi

Dharavi for many still remains classified as Asia’s largest slum. But take a tour within it and you will realize the creative talent oozing out of Dharavi. The place is much like a township replete with schools, hospitals, cottage industries and other profitable ventures that churn out crores of rupees on a daily basis. Not to forget budding creative talent waiting in wings to be discovered and unleashed into the world. And helping the kids of Dharavi would be none other than A R Rahman and Shekhar Kapur. Both these legends who co-own Qyuki.com, a Multi-Channel Network (MCN) have joined hands with Universal Music and come up with a unique initiative titled, The Dharavi Project . This one-of-a-kind initiative will fund the expansion of the music and dance school in Dharavi, and also aims to discover fresh talent from the area, nurture it through the program and amplify it on a domestic and international scale via digital and traditional media. Through this initiative Rahman, Shekhar and Universal Music aim to nurture homegrown talent and provide them with a platform to showcase their potential. To further enhance learning and exposure, Universal Music will periodically bring in prominent singers, musicians, choreographers, producers and the like to mentor young artists from Dharavi. Commenting on this partnership, Rahman said, “I am glad that this initiative we started at Qyuki last year is maturing into a platform that provides underprivileged children a level playing field with equal opportunity as their domestic and international peers”. Max Hole, Chairman & CEO of Universal Music Group International was all smiles at the event andsaid, “Music has extraordinary power and I am very proud to be here in Mumbai on behalf of UMG to help give these children an education in all aspects of making Music. Whether we produce stars out of the programme or simply a lifelong love of music, we will have succeeded in giving them a start along the path of discovery of this beautiful form of expression.” A truly noble initiative for the lesser privileged, we say.