3 min readNew DelhiJul 16, 2012 12:53 AM IST
First published on: Jul 16, 2012 at 12:53 AM IST
When Delhi-based Astitva composed This Is Where I Belong in the basement of a house in Malviya Nagar,the multi-genre band’s makeshift jam pad,before the 2010 Commonwealth Games,they just thought it was good for a gig in Connaught Place.
After two years and a special applause from Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit later,the song has been chosen Delhi’s second official anthem. All it needs now is Dikshit’s official approval.
“We prepared the song for a gig in Central Park,Connaught Place. The performance was part of a youth festival during the Games,” drummer Ayush Gupta (21) said.
He along with bandmates — vocalist Salman Khan,lead guitarist Zaman Khan,Amit James (bass guitar) and keyboardist Kamal Kherera — performed the track at Dikshit’s residence earlier this year. She was so thrilled that she asked them to record the song as Delhi’s anthem.
Mastered in London,with the Delhi government bearing the expenses,the pop-rock track will be released later this month.
The title may read like a copy of Bryan Adams and Boyzone numbers by the same name,but Astitva’s This Is Where I Belong is an original score.
“We asked Astitva to record two songs for us… one on Delhi and the other for our Save the Girl Child campaign. I heard them play. The songs are really good,” Dikshit said.
Earlier,she had asked Euphoria — one of Delhi’s oldest bands — to compose the anthem during the Games.
The rendition,Dilli Meri Jaan,by Palash Sen and his bandmates reportedly failed to win many hearts.
“That’s a good song,too. That we have selected another song for Delhi doesn’t mean the earlier one by Euphoria has been discarded. When you can have more than one movie on Delhi,then why not more than one song,” Dikshit said.
She even visited Arbeque Studio in Kalkaji to watch Astitva’s recording sessions.
“Sheilaji told us to use the best studio,equipment and technology for this track. Every line in the song talks about Delhi,” said Zaman,humming a few lines: “Saare rang hai,saare sang hain,chhoti chhoti galiyon mein,udti patang hai.”
Explaining the difference between the two “anthems”, Astitva said the lyrics of This Is Where I Belong is a medley of Delhi’s traits — such as heritage,food,development in education and Delhi Metro — whereas Euphoria’s song was a chorus on the city.
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