UK plays host to Indian women power concert

A concert featuring three popular Bollywood female singers on the banks of the river Thames here was organised to raise funds for literacy campaign among girls in India.

The 'Three Sensational Singing Sirens' brought together chart-toppers Harshdeep Kaur, Kanika Kapoor and Shalmali Kholgade for a one-off performance at the prestigious Royal Festival Hall on the Southbank in london.

"I have been waiting for this moment all my life. I hope this will be the first of many concerts in london," said Kholgade, who had the audience dancing to her box-office hit numbers like 'Pareshaan' from 'Ishaqzaade' and 'Balam Pichkari' from 'Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani'.

The concert was hosted by Nari Hira, chairman of Magna Publishing and 'Stardust' magazine, as a "first-of-its-kind celebration of women power".

Funds raised from the Saturday night show will go towards the Giving Back Foundation, which works on raising literacy levels among girls in India.

While Kapoor performed to foot-tapping numbers like 'Baby Doll' 'lovely' and 'Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan', Kaur took on some tough Sufi numbers as well as her Bollywood hits like 'Kabira' from 'Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani'.

"It's a case of three for the price of one. With your one ticket you get the chance to listen to a wide range of music, from sufi and classical to pop and bhangra," said Kaur.