Young and experimental

Jasmine Singh

There possibly won’t be a single television or film actor who hasn’t sung as the chorus singer at college or university youth festivals. Well, maybe even sung as the lead singer, or acted in a play or been part of a dance performance, being favourites of the crowd. 

The youth festival at Panjab University is keeping students and teachers busy. It is also an event that celebrities fondly remember because it was their first stage performance. 

The preparatory ground 

Ranjit Bawa: “The second name Bawa was given to me at the youth festivals. I would sing Mitti Da Bawa at youth festivals, and this is how fellow students a started calling me Ranjit Bawa.” Alumnus of Khalsa College, Amritsar, Ranjit recognised his talent after his performance at festivals were applauded. “I was a student of music, but it was only after my performance, I felt I could take up singing professionally.”

Learning curve

Bir Singh: “It won’t be wrong to say that it was while performing at the youth festivals that I learnt how to read the audience’s reaction.” A student of engineering, young Punjabi lyricist and singer Bir Singh performed at youth festivals at Thapar University, DAV College and Chitkara University. He recalls an incident, “Once our drummer accidentally broke a drumstick during the performance, so the rest of performance we gave by clapping and singing.”

Rocked the stage

Badshah: An engineering student from PEC, Chandigarh, Badshah owes his first exposure to rapping and singing to youth festivals. “I always wanted to do music, and the first time I performed in front of the audience was at my college festival. We were supposed to open for Euphoria, the band. So, we begged the festival organising committee to give us 15 minutes for the opening act. And when we went on the stage, those 15 minutes turned to 45 and then one hour, ” he had shared in an interview. 

The perfect platform

Jordan Sandhu: “Khalsa College, Amritsar was my first stage,” Teeje Week’s popular singer Jordan Sandhu gave his first performance at youth festivals only. “Youth festival is an event that every student looks forward to, it is a time when a student can showcase his or her talent, a time when you can see other famous artistes perform live,” adds the singer who got good response. “This gave me the real courage to take up singing professionally.”

The seed germinated   

Kartar Cheema: An ex-student of Theatre and Television Department, Patiala, Kartar Cheema was part of the bhangra team as well as drama. “I think youth festival is the ground where a student realises his or her real talent. If one gets a good response in a particular part, he/she is motivated to take it up professionally.”

Deriving courage

Gurnazar Chatha: “I have managed to make it to the inter-zonal youth festivals and not beyond that,” shares young singing sensation Gurnazar, who represented SD College Ambala Cantt. He fondly remembers the first song he sang, “It was a Haryanavi number, Chori mangal gaavan laagi and it was received well. In fact, it was after youth festivals that I had the courage to perform live,” adds the singer, who used to be a part of one-act play and western group song. “I was okay in all these categories,” he smiles.