Desi vibes

After debating global warming and attending hectic round-table conferences about Barack Obamas new economic plan,it seems,the delegates at the 40th World Economic Forum in Davos,Switzerland,might just be unwinding to Bollywood tunes.

Written by Debesh Banerjee
January 28, 2010 01:29 AM IST

3 min read

After debating global warming and attending hectic round-table conferences about Barack Obamas new economic plan,it seems,the delegates at the 40th World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos,Switzerland,might just be unwinding to Bollywood tunes. Megha Kawale,a Mumbai-based DJ,has been invited by the organisers to perform for two parties,on January 28 and 29,at the Cabana Club,Davos,for the Wipro-CII Bollywood Music Night. It is not usually the kind of platform I play at,so this event will be special, says Kawale,32,who was the resident DJ at Beyond 1900s,Taj Mahal Mumbais nightclub,for five years.

The Bollywood Music Night is held for the fifth year in succession and is open to all the leaders present at the WEF. This is not a regular dance party where you have socialites. There will be heads of multinational corporations and heads of state,I am told, says Kawale. Last year I was travelling so I missed out,but this time when the event-management firm contacted me I did not think twice, she adds.

This story requires a subscription

Select a plan and use IE10 code to get 10% extra off

POPULAR

EXPRESS EDGE

Daily ePaper access

Premium stories & archives

UPSC Section + UPSC Essentials Magazine

Premium stories & archives

UPSC Section + UPSC Essentials Magazine

Starts at ₹133/month

Best for UPSC aspirants

This story requires a subscription

Please Select A Plan

POPULAR

EXPRESS EDGE

Daily ePaper access

Premium stories & archives

UPSC Section + UPSC Essentials Magazine

Premium stories & archives

UPSC Section + UPSC Essentials Magazine

Starts at ₹133/month

Best for UPSC aspirants

Now Kawale works on her own,and has an impressive list of Mumbai celebrities whose parties shes rocked. She has been a DJ at functions for Vijay Mallya,brands like Swarovski,Carrera,Guess and parties at Mumbai Fashion Week. But her favourite so far has been hobnobbing with the rich and the famous at the after-hours party of Art Basel (a popular art fair) and Basel World (jewellery and watch fair) in Switzerland for the last two years. People at these parties have frequented night clubs and are usually carefree and enjoy world music. Right now I am apprehensive since Im not entirely sure what kind of music the crowd at Davos will like, she says.

Kawale usually plays a lot of house music mixed with progressive trance at night clubs. For Davos she has been requested to play mostly Bollywood tracks,which she will mix with international fusion songs. There will be songs like Twist from Love Aaj Kal and Nagada nagada from Jab We Met,fused with some up-tempo tracks mixing Arabic and Indian sarangi tunes. I need to blend the two genres since I am not sure of the clientele, says Kawale,who also dabbles in modelling and walked the ramp recently for a Manish Malhotra show. I enjoy both the worlds, she smiles. Now,only if Kawale can get the leaders at Davos to let their hair down.