Love at first sight

In a scene dominated by music videos that look as though they have been shot on another planet, here's one that comes like a breath of fresh...

In a scene dominated by music videos that look as though they have been shot on another planet, here8217;s one that comes like a breath of fresh air. No strobe lights, no complicated technical wizardry and no unwarranted presence of a dozen leggy models in the background. Nazar Nazar, on air right now on Channel V, MTV and Music Asia, is your typical feel-good video with everyday happenings with which you can not only identify, but which leaves you with a smile on your face.

More importantly, this breath of fresh air comes from nowhere else, than the city of Pune with the entire video shot in the city and the song written, sung and directed by Puneites.

The city people behind the video are Mandar Agashe, who has sung the song and composed the music, Bunty and Prashant, who have directed the video, Mitashi Makar the costume coordinator-cum-art director and Satish Hegde, the lyricist. Plus there are four Puneites who have starred in the video. While the city flashes before your eyes on the small screen accompanied by the foot tapping well rendered number, the video is a refreshingly simple and heart warming depiction of young love. One that is quite likely to prevent the viewer to reach out for the remote to switch channels.

8220;The video8217;s USP lies in it8217;s simplicity,8221; explains well known photographer Prashant, for whom this is a first attempt at directing music videos along with partner Bunty.

8220;The whole project just fell into place so smoothly that it seemed pre-ordained,8221; supplements Agashe, who also happens to be a computer engineer. 8220;I came in contact with Bunty and Prashant when I got my portfolio done from them. The pictures came out really well and I felt so comfortable being with them that I asked them to do the video for me. They heard the number and agreed immediately.8221; The team was approved by the music company BMG Cresendo and after a couple of auditions the project took off.

8220;We settled for relatively fresh faces from Mumbai for the lead and four other persons from Pune. The only other Mumbai artist involved was Mahesh Aney, the cameraman who is also the director of Movers and Shakers,8221; adds Agashe.

The four-day shoot took place in September on locations like the Holiday Inn, locations in Kalyaninagar, Boat club road and the Film Institute. And the end product has met with an extremely encouraging response. 8220;The channels have decided to show it five times a day which is a frequency accorded to very few videos,8221; informs Prashant.

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The song also marks 29-year-old Mandar Agashe8217;s first attempt at singing. Having made waves both in rock and Marathi pop as a composer, the versatile and talented artist is all set to storm the world of Hindi pop. On the anvil is another video from the album Nazar Nazar and an English album he had recorded earlier in the USA.

8220;This video has many firsts. First time singer, first time directors and for the first time, shot entirely in Pune,8221; concludes Agashe. First class stuff, what?

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More