Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, wife Amruta sing to save Mumbai’s rivers 

Called `Mumbai river anthem’, the song features Amruta Fadnavis singing with playback singer Sonu Nigam. (Source: T-Series)

MAHARASHTRA Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his wife Amruta Fadnavis have appeared in a music video that urges people to help keep rivers clean in an initiative titled the Mumbai River Anthem. The video, featuring a number by Amruta and Bollywood playback singer Sonu Nigam, has Fadnavis and Forests Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar lip-syncing. Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta and Mumbai Police Commissioner Datta Padsalgikar also feature in the video. The song, Chal Chal Mumbai Ke Sang, is produced by Sangeeta Manjarekar and Leelaa Entertainment along with T-series. Sachin Gupta, the music director for the song, said this was an initiative of his new venture Leelaa Entertainment.

“I had seen Amruta supporting the Rally for Rivers with Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, and we discussed this initiative then. We requested her to sing the song. The video is shot at Sanjay Gandhi National Park and you can see how pretty the area is. We want our rivers to be clean like that,” Gupta said, adding that no government funds were used for the video, and that those who are featured agreed to do so for free to support the cause.

Environmental activist Vikram Chogle took the initiative of bringing a diverse set of people together to support the cause, with the video also showcasing Mumbai’s dabbawalas and the Koli community, all seen lip-syncing in the video. “We have worshipped rivers for many years, civilisations have thrived because of rivers. Today, due to industrial apathy, our rivers are no longer the same. Today, we have a reached a stage where we all agree that we need to save our rivers from further degradation. That’s why we decided to come together for this noble cause of saving the rivers of Mumbai,” said Amruta at the launch of song over the weekend.

The Mumbai River Anthem, also featuring singer Sonu Nigam and Forests Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, urges people to help keep rivers in the city clean. (Express Archive)

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, however, slammed the video saying that it exposed the government’s double standards on environmental causes. “Why did the CM not remember Mumbai’s rivers while he took decision to legalise illegal slums along the rivers if the huts were constructed until 2011. It shows his double standards,” said Nitin Sardesai, an MNS leader.