Video on Guru Ram Das Ji by Manika Kaur Kandhari Goes Viral

Manika wanted to make a simple humble tribute to Guru Ram Das.  She recorded a beautiful song and then came up with an idea for the video.  She found a shadow hand artist Amar Sen and the result is below:

Manika Kaur - Kirtan for Causes - Gur Ram Das
Watch this video on YouTube.

Manika is currently recording her second album, planned release for November 2013.

Background

Not many of us develop a unique style of presenting devotional music at a young age.  Fewer still blend Gurbani with modern rhythms and tunes which appeal to the young and old alike, and far too few devote their singing to various causes they feel passionately about.  30-year-old Manika was born and brought up in Melbourne Australia,  and moved to Dubai after she married in 2007.

Manika Kaur’s debut Kirtan album, Bandhana, encompasses all of the above,  and more.  She collaborated with internationally acclaimed bhangra/pop singer Sukhbir to create this CD essentially to raise funds for the Gurdwara being built in Dubai.  And in just over a month of its release, the CD has already helped to raise over one million dirhams for the construction of Guru Nanak Darbar in Dubai.  Blessed with a divine voice and writing poetry since she was little girl, Manika spent a lot of her younger years mimicking her favorite singers, musicians and raagis.  Although she had no formal training in music, an Australian producer had already recorded an English song with her before she moved to Dubai.  A chance social encounter with the well known singer Sukhbir shaped her dream of recording a Kirtan CD to raise funds for building the Dubai Gurdwara.

As for Manika herself, she believes that, “Music is a wonderful medium through which one can spread any message. I know that there are many singers around the world who are much more gifted than I am, but God has been really kind to me, and I’m sure I can do more.  I have been blessed with a very comfortable life, but I feel that I must do something for those less fortunate than me.  And I honestly believe that if each of us can look out for others a little bit more – feed an orphan, donate some clothing to the needy, educate the poor, etc., the world would be a much better place to live in.”

www.manikamusic.com

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here