ASIAN STAR SEARCH NETS OVER 700 APPLICANTS
(27 February 2003)

Noor-Al-Ain-Waheed of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent is the youngest 'Asian Star' to participate in Asian Star Search.

Over 700 people applied from across the country and the best 150 contestants have been shortlisted by AsianStarSearch. Launched by Kuljit Bhamra, a pioneer of the UK Asian music scene, the nationwide competition aims to discover the next generation of British Asian pop stars. Contestants who can MC or sing in Hindi, Punjabi or Urdu were invited to live auditions held before a panel of judges from the Asian music industry. The ultimate prize is a recording contract with Kuljit Bhamra's Keda records.

Up to 50 of these potential 'Asian Stars' were from the Midlands, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow. The first round of auditions took place in Birmingham at the Central Library Theatre on Sunday 2nd March 2003, and were followed by the London auditions on 15th and 16th March. The whole Asian Starsearch project will feature in a TV documentary to be broadcast later in the year.

Kuljit Bhamra said that "this project could not have been launched at a better time, it will continue to feed the nation's increasing appetite for Asian culture as evident in the recent successes of 'Bend it like Beckham', 'Bombay Dreams' and 'The Guru'. This will be the making of the next Asian Pop Stars!"

ABOUT KULJIT BHAMRA

Kuljit Bhamra is a renowned tabla virtuoso, teacher, composer and record producer. He is one of the most influential musicians in the ever-expanding Asian music scene. Kuljit has composed, produced and recorded more than 1500 songs to date- many of which have been international hits on the Asian Music scene.

He manages his business from offices in Southall, Middlesex, at the heart of the Asian community. His studio, "The Sight & Sound Centre" in Priory Way, houses a high quality recording studio and professional pre-production suite. His Keda record label is synonymous with the making of "overnight Bollywood and Bhangra stars."

Western audiences will be familiar with Kuljit's work on the sound track and music score for the award winning film: Bhaji on The Beach (Channel 4 Productions), and more recently his music for The Ramayana (performed at the National Theatre and Birmingham Repertory Theatre). Kuljit's music has also featured in other theatre plays including Mapping the Edge (Sheffield Crucible Theatre) and Cloud Watching (National Youth Theatre).

Kuljit is renowned for his drumming and percussion arrangements on the feature films; A Little Princess, Wings of a Dove, The Guru and Bend It Like Beckham. He has also featured in Spielberg's Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom and performed on an album by Ringo Starr (The Beatles).

Kuljit composed the music score for the feature film; A Quiet Desperation due for release later this year and is currently touring with top Bhangra artist Sangeeta and internationally acclaimed Jazz Saxophonist, Andy Sheppard.

Having worked closely with Andrew Lloyd Webber and A R Rahman, you can see Kuljit performing in Bombay Dreams at the Apollo Theatre, London.

Further details available at: www.asianstarsearch.com