If channel V can launch a nationwide hunt for VIVA all-girl band, so can the Prasar Bharati Corporation, whose search to find the best rockers from the North-East will come to an end on April 25. Of course, coming from the public service broadcaster, the subsequent footage of the hunt will be a lot more sanitised and more in tune with ‘‘Indian culture’’ than what is seen on the music channels beaming into the country.The DD North East Music Fest ’03, a brainchild of former minister in charge of North-East Arun Shourie, is meant to explore the abundant wealth of music talent in the region. Taken up as a top priority project by the Prasar Bharati Corporation, the concert will pit the best of the North-East rockers against one another for the number one position. Needless to say, Shourie has been invited.‘‘We will try not to sound or look like Channel V or any another music channel,’’ said Director General, Doordarshan, S.Y. Quraishi. In tune with the public service broadcaster’s image, rockers had to keep a few things in mind if they wanted to qualify. A song on AIDS awareness was a must. This was to be followed by a regional song, and then songs of their choice.The search took off in February. Between 10 and 15 rock groups from the North-East took part in the preliminary rounds, of which two from each of the eight states were chosen for the finals on April 25.Quraishi and others are trying to rope in the best label to record the music. ‘‘We are looking at an international launch of the band after the finals are through,’’ claims Quraishi. Talks are on with major music labels who have shown interest in the project.The whole concert and the search preceding it has been funded by the Department for the Development of North-East and the Nehru Yuvak Kendra Sangathan for Rs 16 lakh. As with all quasi-government presentations, the festival is being held in that last bastion of sarkari pomp — Hotel Ashok.
