UZBEKIS LOVE INDIAN CULTURE, BOLLYWOOD: SHIBANI KASHYAP

The Indie-pop queen recently performed in Uzbekistan on the occasion of 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations.

- BADAR BASHIR

Shibani Kashyap, a renowned Indian singer, is a prominent artist in the Indian music and entertainment industry. Armed with her rich experience and having dazzled the Indian masses with her exceptional talent, she has now assumed the role of India's musical and cultural ambassador with much aplomb. As an artist empanelled with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, the Indie-pop queen, Shibani Kashyap, recently performed in Uzbekistan on the occasion of "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav" iconic week celebrations from 16-21 March 2023. The week-long event marked the 75th year of India's Independence and showcased the country's rich cultural heritage through music, dance, and other art forms. This is in the backdrop of the G-20 Summit which India is hosting this year. Kashyap talked about her journey in an exclusive interview with The Sunday: Guardian. Excerpts:

Q: As you have performed in several countries, tell us what was different about Uzbekistan?

A: I think Uzbekistan was one of the charming experiences for me. The kind of love I received not just as an artiste, but as an Indian performer, it was unsurpassed. I don't think I've got this kind of love, this kind of affection and joy anywhere. People there love Indian culture and Bollywood so much. They just go crazy about Bollywood. It was just a five-day trip, but in those five days I felt I lived a different life altogether.

Q: What role do you think music plays in bringing the two countries together?