Freespirit & CRY Launch a Special Album 'Asha Wali Dhoop' in Support of Child Rights

Freespirit & CRY announce the launch of Asha Wali Dhoop, a special compilation of tracks by some of the biggest names of the Indian music fraternity. The album is available for people who love good music and are advocates of equal rights for all children.

This project was announced in January this year,around the time of the disastrous tsunami that hit the Eastern Coast of India last December. The money collected will be used towards restoring the rights of children, including those in areas affected by the tsunami. The album will aim to ensure that fewer than 5.5 million children are born underweight every year, to see that every 6th girl child does not die because she is a girl, so that children do not walk 3 km every day to reach their upper primary school, and children who are separated from their families due to natural calamities like the Tsunami are taken care of and are nurtured in a family.

Asha Wali Dhoop features 12 songs, including three specially created tracks and the CRY Child Rights Anthem 'Mera Bhi Toh Adhikaar Hai'. The title track features world-renowned artists Ustad Zakir Hussain (who has not only played the tabla but has also lent his voice for the track), Ustad Sultan Khan, Taufiq Quereshi, Shankar Mahadevan, Ali Azmat (of Junoon fame) and saxophone player George Brooks. Ad-man & lyricist Prasoon Joshi has penned the lyrics for the track. The other new tracks on the album feature FreeSpirit artists from Bangalore Ricky Kej (Badraa - Pain Mix) and Vinapra (Dharti). The inspiring song "Mera Bhi Toh Adhikaar Hai" sung by children and their celebrity parents, it is penned by Javed Akthar and the music is composed by Aadesh Shrivastava. The compelling lyrics brilliantly articulate Child Rights from an innocent child's point of view.

Aadesh Shrivastava who is the driving force, behind the Child Rights Anthem spoke passionately at the event "Children are an asset. It is our collective responsibility to enable them to reach their potential. If by making the song in the interest of our young citizens, I am able to shape their lives, I will do so. I am happy if I can use my skills today can help raise awareness about ensuring children's rights."

Representing India's first family of percussion, Taufiq Quereshi has composed the title song, "Asha Wali Dhoop". It talks about the silver lining that each one of us can help create for all Indian children, for them to lead a happy childhood and seek a promising future. "I was very moved by the TV images of the Tsunami affected areas. When Rajeev Sharma asked me for a special song for an album for raising funds, it was the least I could do. I treasure my child Shikharnaad, love playing with him. I believe this kind of a childhood is the right of every child in India - where the child need not worry about whether he can attend school, where the child need not work to support his/her family and where every child is heard by elders. Together we can generate awareness on Child Rights so that millions of children do not face tribulation, they live their childhood to the fullest. As my father, Aabbaji, Ustad Allarakha would say.... I cannot keep what I have to myself. I have to pass it on. I hope this song reaches out to India and the world".

Ustad Zakir Hussain who has also lent his voice to the song says, "The tsunami has been a mammoth tragedy and the loss was unprecedented. Music has always been a great healer in life and when Taufiq approached me to be part of this new song he is composing I immediately agreed".

Shankar Mahadevan was also of the opinion that a lot has been lost in this natural calamity and it is time that humanity rises above all differences. "I think that life has taught us a big lesson. We always dream big, think we are the safest in our homes. But when nature is at its worst we are helpless. Its time we gather ourselves and do our bit for the survivors. As musicians we have done our bit through this song and the album".

Prasoon Joshi who has penned the lyrics for the title song says, "The tsunami was a very difficult time for our country. As a poet, I also had great difficulty in writing a song for the situation; it is not easy to just ask people to forget everything and move on in life! Through 'Asha Wali Dhoop' I've tried to convey that all of us have to be sensitive towards the losses that people have incurred, hold their hands and together with them come out of this crisis. That's what I have tried to write; that's the balance I've tried to strike".

Speaking on the inclusion of Child Rights Anthem in the compilation, Puja Marwaha, Director  " West, CRY said "For CRY, the Child Rights anthem is a small beginning to find newer ways to generate awareness about Child Rights. With the Child rights movement, we want to ensure that every child gets equal opportunity in life, that all children survive and lead healthy lives, grow up feeling protected and nurtured for, that their childhood gives them scope to seek and define their own futures. The choices we make today as citizens will determine the world our children live in."

The initiative for the album came from Rajeev Sharma, Managing Director, FreeSpirit Entertainment - "Although people from all walks of life have already contributed and many efforts have been made, we at FreeSpirit know there is still a lot to be done. CRY has already started work in the tsunami affected areas; the funds from the sale of the album will add to their efforts towards restoring rights to children".

This album and songs on it will help raise funds in all possible ways including from the sales of CDs and cassettes, from digital downloads off the internet, ring tones and radio airplay royalties. Indiatimes has come forward to support this album by promoting sales of ringtones through the 8888 service and also create a micro site to create awareness over the internet. Planet M has helped us by accommodating the launch event on a busy day and with support to make the event a success.

The album will have four videos to promote it  - Asha Wali Dhoop, Mera Bhi To Adhikar Hai, Vishwa & The Other Rhythm. Internationally renowned artists like Mynta, Kailash Kher, Alms for Shanti also feature on the album, making it a great pick for music lovers.

The album is available in all music stores on FreeSpirit. CDs are priced at Rs. 175/- and cassettes at Rs. 75/-

** About Free Spirit **

FreeSpirit Entertainment Pvt Ltd: India's first "World Music" label dedicated to showcasing the best in India Traditional music and music from around the world. Under the FreeSpirit label, artists have the freedom to find their own expression so that listeners can enjoy music in its evergreen spirit. FreeSpirit as a company is committed to providing world-class music to the Indian market and across the world. The repertoire focuses in the genre of World,"World beat, Traditional & "Lounge". FreeSpirit has an artist roster comprising of Taufiq Quereshi, Alms for Shanti, Ricky Kej, Kailash Kher & Vinapra. The repertoire includes artists: Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pt. Rajan-Sajan Mishra, Rahul Sharma, Rakesh Chaurasia, Mynta, Abhijit Pohankar amongst other.

** About CRY **

CRY-Child Rights and You, India's leading Child Rights organization, believes that every child is entitled to basic rights of survival, protection, development and participation, in a word to childhood. CRY has learned over 26 years that ensuring these in a sustainable manner is only possible when grassroots action is combined with community empowerment, active citizenship and advocacy. Started in 1979, today CRY partners close to 200 child development projects across India. In its 25th year CRY initiated a citizen's movement to restore the rights of children. Today, its symbol, the pinwheel called the "Free-a-Child Chakri", represents freedom for all India's children.