Dubai: A Dubai couple are on a unique trail to revive the rhythms and sounds of a rare Indian community that has shaped the multiculturalism of the UAE for almost two centuries.
Homemaker Deepa Chachara, 40, and her hotelier husband Bharat, 43, have produced a musical album, Halo Dhol Vajayoun (literally translates as ‘Let’s beat the drums’), that traces the celebratory rustic folk songs of the Thathai Bhatia community. Originally from the Thatta region in what is now Sindh, Pakistan, they are among the first Indians to have set foot in the emirates in the 1800s.
“Ours is a small community numbering less than 15,000 people worldwide. It’s very easy for our culture, traditions and rituals to get lost in this age of globalisation. It takes a lot of effort not by one person or a group but the entire community to make sure that our identity remains and all that we stand for does not get lost in antiquity,” says Bharat.
The album, whose music has been composed and arranged by Mumbai-based artiste Jagdish Lalwani, features 10 folk wedding songs sung by members of the community. “We wanted to make sure each and every word is pronounced in the right manner. We completed the entire production in about two years time, making sure the music sounded great, appealed to the newer generations while all traditional aspects remained intact,” says the third generation resident of Dubai.
“I hope that after the release of Halo Dhol Vajayoun the songs become a norm in our weddings and replace Bollywood numbers which seem to have taken over,” adds Bharat’s wife, Deepa.
Halo Dhol Vajayoun is the first ever music album of the Thathai Bhatia community. It tries to capture the spirit of traditional songs which are sung during festive occasions by infusing modern beats. It was launched by Anurag Bhushan, the Consul General of India, on Wednesday at the consulate in Dubai.
