"Also known as BOLLYWOOD PANDITS"

 

.....................music to your ears!

 

About Strings.....

 

 Strings have been performing a wide range of Indian music since their inauguration in 1994. Founding member Kiran Thakrar is a multi-award-winning accomplished producer and Bollywood collaborator who have performed with some of the biggest names in world music like Belbel Gilberto at MOBO Awards ceremony, Legendary Late Nusarahat Fatehalikhan, Sivamani, Bollywood Music Directors Nadeem Shravan & Ravindra Jain, Richa Shrama, Hariharan, Hans Raj Hans, Jame Asher and many more.

The band has played everything from international festivals and royal receptions to Never Mind The Buzzcocks (where they did a rousing version of ‘Cotton Eye Joe’ with Bill Bailey, Danny Alan, David Jones-Mcfly, Simon Amstell and Phill Jupitus) – even a two-night stint performing alongside Bill Bailey in front of 20,000 people at the Wembley arena.

Anu Shukla (aka Anuradha Shukla) - The lead singer and artistic director of the band who has also won awards in Kenya and Briton and has collaborated with world famous icons like German band Dissidenten and American RnB superstar Ginuwine.

Strings offers Indian music in a range of styles, from Hindi pop and soul-shaking Bollywood classics to Bhangra, Raas-Garba and Soothing Sitar and Piano

To add an exotic kick
Strings  have team of colourful and charismatic Bollywood dancers who create a virtual world of Bollywood Cinema.


"Soul Shaking" - Time Out
“A very diverse and truly magnificent band”
– Royal National Theatre, South Bank, London.

"Fantastic Vocal Performance" - Last FM

Strings specializes in:-

bullet

Hindi Bollywood pop songs (Watch our videos here)

bullet

Indian Folk Traditional Raas Garba/Disco Dandia

bullet

We can also provide a group of colourful Bollywood dancers

bullet

Soft Sitar Instrumental music (Ideal for Cocktail parties!)

bullet

Bollywood classics in piano  (Click here to listen live demo)

bullet

Bhajans / Jain Stavans / Gujarati Music / Folk Music

bullet

Bhangra 

bullet

Live DJ

bullet

Composing and arranging Indian music to collaborate with international bands/artists (recording, production and live). Watch our collaborations here)

 

(To hear demonstration of our live performance please click here)

 

 

 

 

THE LATEST.........
bullet Bollywood Pandits is ready to fly with crew of 26 people (10 piece band, Dancers, Video Jockey, Make UP artist...) to perform two spectacular stage shows on 22nd & 23 March 10 for government of Oman with ultimate technology & sound by Mr K. J. Singh ( Front of house sound engineer of A R Rehman's Jai Ho tour)
bulletBollywood Pandits is invited to perform for UK ASIAN BUSINESS AWARDS at SOFITEL HOTEL
bulletBollywood Pandits performed at UK ASIAN MUSIC AWARDS AT ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL

 

2010 Highlights.....
bullet 14th Feb 10 - Valentine Dinner & Dance at Haveli Slough with Bhangra Legend Shin (DCS)
bullet 06th March 10 - Birmingham with Shin (DCS) Private Event
bullet 11th March 10- Royal Festival Hall, London UK Asian Music Awards
bullet 22nd March 10 - Hosn El Felidj Theater, Muscat Stage show with 26 peice band for Government of Oman
bullet 24th March 10 -  El Mouroudj Theater, Salalah Stage show with 26 peice band for Government of Oman
bullet 26th March 10 - Sofitel Hotel, Heathrow Terminal 5 Asian Business Awards
bullet 16th April 10 - Circus Casino
bullet 29th April 10 - Alexandra Palace (Private event)
bullet 05th June 10- Arora Hotel Group (Private event)
bullet 02nd July 10 - Dorchester Hotel (Private event)
bullet 10th July 10 - Grosvenor House (Private event)
bullet 31st July 10 - Ljubljana, Slovenia
bullet 3rd Aug 10 - Malmo Festival, Malmo (Sweeden)
bullet 23rd Nov 10 - With Bollywood playback singer Kavita Krishnamurthy at Sai Birthday Celebration, Byron Hall

 

 

 

Presents Diwali-2009 Special Live Sessions

 

Watch a montage of an exclusive live session with Shin, of Bhangra band DCS,

collaborating with the Bollywood Pandits, featuring Anu shukla, Apache Indian & Kiran Thakrar
 

Listen the the full session on Nikki's Diwali Special, Sat 17th October 09 from 17.00.

The full video will be available soon after. 

 

 

This year 2009 on Diwali CME bring you Britain's Got Talent runners-up, SIGNATURE
performing their breath-taking act live on stage alongside
performing live London's finest Indian Band BOLLYWOOD PANDITS

 

 

Strings (also known as Bollywood Pandits) collaborated and performed two shows

with acclaimed comedian and singer

Bill Bailey at Wembley arena

 

 

Whole band was emotional when 20,000 people warmly welcomed

the concept of fusing Rock song with Indian music........

 

Featuring

Anu Shukla

as a lead singer

In a brand new smashing Bollywood Musical

Bollywoodland- "Where Love Never Dies"

at

Theatre Teatro Compac Gran Vía, Madrid Spain

 

Highlights of our recent show in POLAND

(Please click the thumbnail)

 

Collaboration with Amercian RnB superstar Ginuwine

Nominated in UK ASIAN MUSIC AWARDS 2009

 as "Best Urban Act"!!

 

Watch out for the debut single 'Baby Dil Deewana' Feat. U.S star Ginuwine and UK star Anu Shukla of Strings (also known as Bollywood Pandits) This unique collaboration is a revolution in music bringing together RnB and Hindi genres. Hindi lyrics written and sang by Anu, composed by Kiran Thakrar & produced by hot new talent Shayal. click here to watch and listen this amazing track
The single and video feat. Bollywood Actress Neha dhupia as a model

 

BREAKING BARRIERS…..!!! 

No 2 in the Official BBC Independent Label (Indie) Chart

no 7 in the Official BBC RnB Chart in it's first week!

 

 

Kiran & Anuradha performed at British Commonwealth Centre for Royals....!!

 

Kiran meets HRH Prince Philip Kiran meets Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Anuradha meets HRH Prince Charles Kiran meets HRH Prince Charles

(Click on the image to view it in full size)

2009 Highlights.....

23rd March 09 - Anuradha lead singer of band is singing in musical name 'Bollywoodland-Where Love Never Dies' for two months in Spain.
22nd March 09 - The City Pavillion- Dinner and Dance with Shin from DCS
11th April 09 - Harrow Leisure centre-Jains UK Raas Garba Extravaganza
04th May 09 - London Marriott Hotel-Private event
14th June 09 -Twickenham Carnival
25th July 09 - Novotel Hotel, Hammersmith-Private Event
26th July 09 - Limetree Festival

15th Aug 09 - Park Lane Hilton Hotel - Private Event
16th Aug 09 - Live at Bandstand, Portsmouth,

19th Sep 09 - Onwards Navaratri Festival 2009 at Kapital Venue, Kapital Building, Leicester
17th Oct 09 - Bolton- Diwali Dinner & Dance

17th Oct 09 - BBC Asian Radio Diwali Special Live sessions click here to watch
24th Oct 09 - Diwali Dinner & Dance, Munich, GERMANY

23rd Nov 09 - With Bollywood playback singer Mahalakshmi Iyer at Sai Birthday Celebration, Byron Hall

24th Dec 09 - City Pavillion Dinner & Dance with Shin from DCS Bhangra band

31st Dec 09 - Dinner Dance at Kapital Leicester
 

2008 Highlights.....
bullet 29th Nov 08  Radisson Portman Square Hotel, (Anglo-Asian Odontological Group Annual Ball)
bullet 23rd Nov 08 with Bollywood playback singer Richa Sharma at Sai Birthday Celebration, Byron Hall
bullet 08th Nov 08  Concert Hall & Klub Palladium, Warsaw, POLAND (Click here for more details)
bullet 26th Oct 08 Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Heathrow, (Mehfeel with Piano)
bullet 23rd Oct 08 Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Knightsbridge (Diabetes.org.uk)
bullet 30th Sep 08 onwards Navaratri Festival 2008 at UK's hottest venue Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre, Chiswick
bullet 14th Aug 08 With Bill Bailey at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2008
bullet 06th July 08 Live at Bandstand, Portsmouth,
bullet 25th June 08 City of London Festival
bullet 21st June 08 Aggarwal Foods, SWITZERLAND (Corporate promotional event)
2007 Highlights.....
bullet 21st April 07 Lloyds TSB Asian Jewel Awards Night 2007, Manchester
bullet 29th April 07 Bollywood Brent Showcase, Wembley
bullet 30th June 07 Southampton Mela, Southampton
bullet 13th July 07 Mayor Of Richmond's World Music Concert, Richmond
bullet 24th July 07 BA Cash & Carry, City Hall, Cardiff (Corporate promotional event)
bullet 29th July 07 National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull (Private event)
bullet 05th Aug 07 Luton Mela, Luton
bullet 18th Sep 07 Dorchester Hotel, London (Private event)
bullet 20th Sep 07 Dorchester Hotel, London (Private event)
bullet 22nd Sep 07 Four seasons hotel (Private event)
bullet 23rd Sep 07 with India's foremost playback singer Richa Sharma at Grosvenor House Hotel, London (private event)
bullet 2nd & 3rd Oct 07 House of Lords (IIFA contempary Indian Art Show)
bullet 12th October 07 onwards.. Navratri Festival 2007 at UK's Hottest venue Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre, Chiswick
bullet 10th Nov 07 Diwali Mela Party, Munich GERMANY
bullet 14th Nov 07 Stanley Casino, Nottingham
bullet 28th Nov 07 with Bill Bailey (BBC Nevermind The Buzzcock fame) at Brighton Centre
bullet 29th & 30th Nov 07 again with Bill Bailey at WEMBLEY ARENA
2006 Highlights.....
bullet New Year's Eve party in  Frankfurt, GERMANY
bullet 3rd March 2006 Fusion Devotional music performance at Kallang Theatre, SINGAPORE
bullet 16th July 2006 Croydon Mela, Main stage
bullet 29th July Classic Bollywood with Classical singer Chandra Chakraborty at Cannizaro Park Festival
bullet 29th July Tesco Feltham (Corporate promotional event)
bullet 20th Aug 2006 'ON The Edge' Richmond Riverside Festival
bullet 15th Dec 2006 Live performance and interview on BBC WM Birmingham
bullet

Don’t forget to tune BBC2 on Christmas Eve at 9. 30pm to watch our appearance on "Never Mind the Buzzcock” show......It is a fun....!!

STRINGS with Danny Alan David Jones (MCfly),Simon Amstell  Phill Jupitus and Bill Bailey in Nevermind The Buzzcocks (BBC2)  STRINGS in Nevermind The Buzzcocks (BBC2)  Anuradha with Mary Joe (original singer of 'Cotton Eye Joe') from Rednex band   STRINGS at BBC green room  STRINGS with Mary Joe at BBC TV studio to perform in Nevermind the Buzcocks

Pictures of STRINGS performance on 'Never mind the Buzzcocks' Show in BBC2 TV 

Please click the Thumbnail to view it in full size

2005 Highlights......

bullet

11th March 05 Performance at Savoy Theatre, FINLAND

bullet

3rd July 05 The Festival Of Sea, Bournemouth

bullet

17th July 05 Southampton Mela, Southampton

bullet

6th Aug 05  Riverside Festival, Nottingham

bullet

13th Aug 05 Ethno Dance Festival, Moscow, RUSSIA  Click here to view amazing performance

bullet

17th Aug 05 Royal National Theatre, London

 

2004 Highlights.......

bullet

Kiran performed at the MOBO'S  Awards with Babel Gilberto (Mobo award winner of 'Best World Music Album')

bullet

Performed at London Mela, Tooting Mela, Crawley Mela, Belgrave Mela

bullet

Dandia at Trafalgar Square

bullet

Strings Performed with India's Foremost Punjabi singer Hans Raj Hans

bullet

Once again Strings performed at the Mayor of London celebrated Diwali, 'the Festival of Light', in Trafalgar Square with 20,000 people on Sunday 7 November.

 

Memorable performances of Strings.....

Universal's Film The Guru Premiere

Strings performed for one thousand Hollywood industry related people at Amerstradem Cine Expo 2002 in the Showcase  of Universal International Picture's new releases including its latest movie THE GURU for which Strings performed with Jimmy Mistry the 'Guru' of the Film(see Picture here)

Louis Vuitton

Strings recently performed for world famous designer Louis Vuitton on their launch of new product

BBC

It was honour for Strings to be part of BBC Party. Strings was invited to perform in a party by BBC for the opening of their new BBC Media Village site.

Henley's Asian Music Festival

Strings performed for an audience of three thousand people for this prestigious occasion. We were nominated the best Indian Band in UK and this festival was broadcasted on ZEE TV.

50 years of Independent India - A Celebration

Strings performed for two shows in the world famous venue Symphony Hall. We were very much Honoured to perform for 50th India’s independence Day in presence of High Commissioner of India and many such dignitaries from UK and India. Once again we performed to a full house audience of four thousand.

Live On Air - By Asianet

Strings was chosen as" the Band"  by Asianet TV to perform live  for a special Broadcast aired throughout Europe.

An Evening with Sri Hariprasad  Chaurasia

Strings, once again had the privilege to perform alongside the greatest flutist in the world - Sri Hariprasad Chaurasia,  at the Royal Festival Hall.

Navratri Nights

Strings is performing for last many years for the Lohana Navratri (The Hottest Navaratri spot) in Brenford Leisure Centre, Chiswick for 13 nights in a row.  Once again,  we were voted the best band to date. Quite naturally, We had One Thousand, two hundred people on their feet non stop for 3 hours everyday for 13 days!!!

Best Band - Yes Sir, We were!!!

 

 Strings.....A prestigious band at prestigious venues

bullet

Kallang Theatre SINGAPORE

bullet

Klub Palladium Warsaw POLAND

bullet

Savoy Theatre, Helsinki, FINLAND

bullet

Symphony Hall,  Birmingham

bullet

International Convention Centre,  Birmingham

bullet

Royal festival Hall,  London

bullet

Wembley Conference Centre,  London

bullet

Olympia Earls Court,  London

Our past client list :-

bullet

Louis Vuitton

bullet

Lloyds TSB Jewel Awards

bullet

National Television Awards

bullet

BBC (Opening of Media Village)

bullet

BBC 2 (Never Mind The Buzzcocks)

bullet

United International Pictures (Universal Pictures)

bullet

Goldman Sachs

bullet

The National Trust UK

bullet

Royal National Theatre

bullet

Madhwani Family

bullet

Ketan Somiya

bullet

Sethis

bullet

Laxmi Mital

bullet

Hindujas

bullet

Chartered Institute of Environmental Health

bullet

Barclays Bank

bullet

Deloite

bullet

Tesco

bullet

Various Lions Clubs

 

The group is now available for your special occasion , playing a wide and varied array of music. Whatever the occasion, whatever the mood, whatever the time and whatever the place, Strings will bring music to your ears, and liven up the day or night for you.

 

Web site designed and maintained by Kiran Thakrar