Celina Jaitly makes music debut with United Nations Free & Equal campaign
MUMBAI: In yet another actor-turned-singer instance, former Miss India Celina Jaitly has made her musical debut, with a social cause. The actress, who is an Equality Champion for the UN, has come out in support of the nation's LGBT community by releasing a remix of a classic Bollywood pop track.
The video of track, which is titled 'The Welcome' was released earlier today and is a contemporised version of the 1979 track 'Uthe Sab Ke Kadam' from the film 'Baton Baton Mein'. In the video Jaitly is depicted as part of an urban Indian family, who not only accepts their gay son, but also his partner.
The video has been made with the support of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for its "Free & Equal" campaign. Also working on the project is music label Saregama, who had added some top names to the video. Neeraj Shreedhar, one half of Indian pop band Bombay Vikings is the man behind the remix, while the video has been shot by Sanjay F Gupta and choreographed by 'Slumdog Millionaire' choreographer Longi.
Jaitly, at the event launch, said, "The song and video is a concrete attempt to connect with the masses on the discrimination of the community and denial of their basic human rights through the universal language of music. You either feel for a cause or you don't. The LGBT cause is not a politically correct and you can't change attitude through laws, you need to change hearts and minds." She also added that the protection of rights of the LGBT community went beyond religion and politics.
In addition to being made available on www.unfe.org/the-welcome for internet users, the video will also be transmitted on several television channels to reach out to those without access to the web.