3Veni, India’s Ganjawala team up

A confident Persad said that he has been performing in Holland for the past ten years with his band. “This year we have some of the hottest soca and remixed tunes to offer. JMC 3Veni continues to create waves in many parts of the world and we expect this tour to run smoothly,” he said.

He noted that it will be a challenge to share a stage with a huge star like Kunal but 3 Veni has been well received at many of the big international shows in Canada.

Surrendra Maharaj has joined his crew of singers for this venture. The Holland-based singer Faya has also joined the band. He shares the stage with Sarika Mahabir, Keisha Stewart and Papa Steve to do remixed and soca songs at Copa Caribana. Steve has been creating a frenzy with Sherwin Winchester’s tune, “Don’t Stop” while Sarika’s “Doi Festival” is another big hit in Holland.

Kunal who is booked to perform on June 10 in TT for the Bollywood Film Awards will be performing at Caribana for the first time.

As reported by Santabanta, Kunal just got lucky. His shy smile and grateful eyes reflect the contentment he is experiencing. He is still coming to terms with his newfound celebrity status, after a six-year-long period of “rejections, dejections and humiliations.”

Kunal’s voice mesmerised with its sensuous appeal in the films Murder and Bheege Honth, had people swaying to “Channa Ve,” and feet tapping to “Kaal Dhamal,” in Kaal.

This talented, largely self-taught artiste, never aspired to be a singer.

“I was not even a bathroom singer. I began singing only when I was ragged as a fresher in Elphinston College, Mumbai.”

In 1992, he met musician Ranjit Barot who gave him a chance to sing a line in A R Rahman’s ‘Vande Mataram’remix.

The rejections he faced in his struggling years did not erode his confidence. “By then, I had decided to become a playback singer,” recalls Kunal.

His forthcoming films include Krish, the sequel to Koi... Mil Gaya’, and Kya Kool Hai Hum.

Apart from this Holland experience, JMC 3Veni will perform at the Markham Fairground in Toronto for several shows during June/July. The band will be participating in the Wild Waters Kingdom and where it will play at the Withfield Bilasco Olympics.