Big B, Bal Thackeray launch Aditya Thackeray's debut music album

Mumbai, Jan 18 (UNI) Bollywood mega star Amitabh Bachchan and Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today released the debut music album of Aditya Uddhav Thackeray on Times Music.

All the songs in the album, 'Ummeed', are penned by the 17-year-old grandson of Shiv Sena chief. It was co-produced by Rashmi Thackeray, wife of Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray.

Amitabh Bachchan, attired in pyjama and kurta, described himself as one of the family members of Thackeray and wished Aditya best luck in his endeavour.

He recalled his earlier meeting with Uddhav, when the latter told him that his son writes poetry and gifted him a collection of poetry by Aditya.

In his rare public appearance, Mr Thackeray congratulated his grandson and cautioned him not to drive rash nor to be very slow.

Mr Thackeray, who will complete 82 on January 23, in his humourous speech, told Amitabh that ''You are not the only Big B, I am also B (Balasaheb).'' He also said how he was criticised for sporting a beard like Amitabh.

While Amitabh was in his French cut beard, Mr Thackeray was sporting complete white beard.

Actress Sonali Kulkarni was the anchor of the function. It was attended by many eminent personalities from political and film world. Among them were Sridevi, Boney Kapoor, city BJP chief Prakash Mehta, Uddhav Thackeray and others.

The album features noted Indian singers like Suresh Wadkar, Devki Pandit, Kunal Ganjawala, Vaishali Samat, Avdut Gupte, Shankar Mahadevan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Jolly Mukherjee, Shilpa Rao, Mahalaxmi Aiyar, Chandrashkar Gadgil, Sandeep Pankeshwar, Ashwin Sreenivasan, Swapnil Bandodkar and Tejas (Aditya's younger brother).

The first music video of the album, 'Ek Khoj', is directed by noted photographer Jagdish Mali. It features Milind Gunaji as a harrowed professional, who is in search of truth and meaning in the grind of life. The music of the video album is by Mayrush Pai.

'Ummeed' primarily echoes the sensitive apparoach surrounding the contemplative teenager.

Earlier in the day, veteran singer Lata Mangeshkar made it a point to visit 'Matoshree', the bungalow of Mr Thackeray, situated in suburban Bandra, and congratulate the young poet for his achievement.

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