Dharavi Musicians Create Rap Anthem, Urge People to Wear Masks

By Puja Gupta

Young rap musicians from Dharavi, Mumbai have created a unique trilingual rap anthem to urge people to wear masks, get timely tests and stay home to curb community spread of coronavirus in densely populated spaces.

The song "Stay Home Stay Safe" in Hindi, Marathi and Tamil is produced by Gully Gang Entertainment, directed by Joel D'Souza and written, composed and performed by Mc Altaf, Tony Psyko (Dopeadelicz) and Bonz N Ribz (7 Bantaiz).

It also features popular rapper Divine along with popular Bollywood, Tollywood and Marathi cinema stars such as Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Atul Kulkarni, Dia Mirza, Rana Daggubati and Suniel Shetty who have lent their voice to the cause.

Created out of their own experience of living in close quarter in Dharavi which is considered as Asia's largest slum, the musicians try to reinforce that it is essential to aid the efforts of police and the doctors who are working tirelessly to save people and educate people in densely populated places to adopt safe and healthy habits despite the cramped quarters in which they live.

Mc Altaf Shaikh of Gully Gang states: "Stay Home, Stay Safe aspires to drive home the message of how safety should be of highest importance to each and every one and we should strictly follow preventive measures as prescribed by the authorities..Right now if you are alive, consider it a blessing and stop complaining. Assist the COVID warriors in carrying out their duties diligently."

Tony Sebastian of Dopeadelicz states, "Stay Home, Stay Safe is a multi- lingual track about the unprecedented global pandemic and we are creating awareness around the need to follow protocols and guidelines, keeping your surroundings clean, co-operating with the government and supporting the frontline workers. With unity and cooperation, we can maintain social distancing and eradicate this virus by staying home and staying safe. Jai Hind."

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Lending his support to the initiative, actor Suniel Shetty said: "It's an absolute honour and pleasure to be a part of this beautiful initiative. These are trying times and it is so humbling to see so many people come together to spread a message, that too, so powerfully. This song truly touched my heart, and I know the emotion will speak to many. Thank you for making me a small part of it."

Echoing his words, actor Dia Mirza said:

"This effort is a onderful example of encouraging behavioural change and spreading awareness that has been made possible with these amazing artists! I feel grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this effort and truly wish it encourages more people to understand the importance and need to stay home and stay safe."

The anthem and music video are a part of a larger #StayHomeStaySafe campaign supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the ATE Chandra Foundation that seeks to unite communities in densely populated areas in the fight against coronavirus. (IANS)