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Swaraj to rock ‘MTV Just Grind’ on 11 July at Mikanos
MUMBAI: Sitars, tanpuras, dhols and thumbi mashed up with dancefloor beats, rocky guitar riffs and catchy vocal. International music with eastern influences. is what music fans can expect at the MTV Just Grind bash. This takes place at Mikano’s on 11 July from 8 pm.
Presented by White Mischief Holidays, MTV Just Grind will showcase the refreshing sound of Swaraj that comes at a time when Punjabi/bhangra is the new flavour of the west. In India, Swaraj will be represented by Khushboo from Sonik Gurus, Nerm from Shiva Sound System and Cavo from the Dum Dum Project. Swaraj consists of 20 DJ’s, musicians, producers and visual artists.
Swaraj was formed nearly six years ago and they have taken their ‘Future Asian Beat’ sound – a heavy fusion of eastern sounds and rhythms with Hip Hop, Funk, Breakbeats, Drum ‘n bass and just about any other western dance floor style – around the world.
Swaraj made the following comments about their upcoming trip to India “Swaraj is your birthright, performing live in India is ours! We’re looking forward to making MTV Just Grind the most happening party in Mumbai so make sure you’re there.”
MTV’s Chillout crew will also be around shoot a half-hour special that will capture the music, the mood, the people and the maasti.
Formed a couple of years ago Sonik Gurus have been likened to an urban version of Blur with their cheeky British pop lyrical sensibilities and heavy urban club grooves. Their music defies categorisation, crossing just about every musical boundary while forging a genre of it’s own. Sitars, tanpuras, dhols and thumbi mashed up with dancefloor beats, rocky guitar riffs and catchy vocal hooks comprise their sound. Sonik Gurus are rapidly establishing themselves as top remixers, having recently remixed tracks by U.S R ‘n B diva Toni Braxton and Shakalaka Baby from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bombay Dreams musical.
Shiva Sound System formed an alliance with Swaraj just before their compilation “Future Asian Beat” was released. Soon rising to the headline act in the Swaraj roster, DJ Nerm’s sets grew incorporating new collaborators and methods of performance at each turn. While the seeds of the Shiva Sound System were sown here, Nerm toured around the globe with Swaraj, including territories from the US to India causing a storm wherever he went.
Meanwhile The Dum Dum Project are currently making their own in-roads into Asia with a popular club residency in Bangkok. They introduced a new Asian- Indian sound, which combines Indian music with breakbeats, samples and live instrumentation. Their new single Punjabi 50 has been at number one on BBC radio1 Asian chart for over a month. Their sound is Urban Asian, with a heavy New York streetwise influence. The band comprises of Sean alias DJ Cavo and producer/instrumentalist Niraj Chag.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
