The programme is the brainchild of Amruta Fadnavis, activist and vice president-corporate head at Axis bank. She is the wife of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Over 20 underprivileged children were selected on Wednesday for a music talent show's grand finale, where they will be able to showcase their skills before stalwarts of the music industry three months from now.
The show, 'Mitti Ke Sitare', is a talent hunt that looks to give an opportunity to disadvantaged children in the city.
It is presented by Divyanj Foundation in association with Mpower, an NGO which primarily helps people with mental health issues.
The programme is the brainchild of Amruta Fadnavis, activist and vice president-corporate head at Axis bank. She is the wife of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The show's idea is to reach out to marginalised sections of society, engage and empower them, and contribute toward enabling a positive change in the quality of the participants' lives.
The participants come from 11,187 civic schools. The talent hunt had received over 2,500 applicants, of whom 600 were selected over two rounds of auditions.
"You should make most of this opportunity. Even if you do not get selected this time, do not lose hope. Look to come back again. None of you is any less," said Fadnavis.
A singer herself, Fadnavis also sang a few lines to honour soldiers while addressing the students. "Music merges you with God," she said.
"The idea of hosting this was to ensure that something can be done for underprivileged children. They are so good. They have not had formal training and still they are so talented," said Neerja Birla, founder and chairperson, Mpower.
Anjali Patni, a Class 8 student at Worli Sea Face English Municipal School who has been selected for the show, said, "This was the first time we got to participate in such an opportunity at such a big level."
Sana Shaikh, a Class 7 student of Dr Ambedkar English School, said: "If I manage to do well, I will be a singer instead of a teacher. My parents say you should take interest in everything."
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