Iranian born singer Nassiri to record album in India

Panaji, Nov 29 (UNI) Yet another renowned musician, born in another country but now settled in the United States, is going to cut an album this time on world peace and equality of man with India's epitome of love the Taj Mahal in the backdrop.

The last time it was Greece-born Yanni, this time it is Iranian-born Nassiri. And to make sure he does not run into the kind of controversy that Yanni had faced, Nassiri has taken all the necessary permissions.

Speaking at a press meet here yesterday, Nassiri said he had travelled to a large number of countries to spread his message that 'Love sees no colour and only through love can we live as one'. He said that he had translated this song in different languages to sing in the various countries he visited, which included Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Berlin, Paris, Russia, China, Japan, Korea and Australia.

Nassiri will be recording the song with about 200 children chosen from a non-governmental organisation in Delhi and hailing from different parts of the country. These children along with Nassiri's own troupe of around 50 people will be performing in Hindi and English later this week.

He will be directed by the renowned Indian filmmaker Rajen Khosa, according to his associate Lawrence Jordan and Indian promoter Bhuvan Lall. The song will be translated in fourteen to fifteen Indian languages.

Asked how he funds his tours, Nassiri said 'it is not how much you make. It is what you will do with your money before you leave this world'. He said he had made enough money from his various enterprises and now wanted to do something for world peace and therefore gave away all the earnings from the music albums to the countries in which he performs.

He said it was important for humans to trust each other and leave in peace. 'Why are we afraid to trust our own shadow', he asked.

Nassiri, who said he had grown up singing Indian songs, sang the first lines from Raj Kapoor's 'awaara hoon', leaving the mediapersons spellbound.

Nassiri has already contributed a substantial sum of money for AIDS victims in South Africa and also for slum dwellers in the Soweto township in Cape Town. He was honoured earlier this year with an award by the South African government and also met one of his idols, Nelson Mandela.

Mr Nassiri said that if the developed world gave even ten per cent of what it spends on modern armaments to poor countries, it could feel all the world's poor.

UNI MR SY RAI1345