KINGSTON, R.I. – April 26, 2010 – Bollywood singing sensation Sanjeevani Bhelande and her accompanying musicians will rock the University of Rhode Island’s Multicultural Center Monday, May 3 from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

Sanjeevani is the first winner of the musical competition, Sa Re Ga Ma, India’s equivalent to American Idol. She has been a popular Bollywood singer since her win.

She began studying music at age 10 and trained in Indian classical music. Sanjeevani has sung background numbers for many Indian films, starting with the movie, Kareeb in which her song, Chori Chori, won the Best Playback Singer award.

The URI performance is part of the ongoing programming related to India, following the successful 2009 URI Honors Colloquium “Demystifying India.”

Sanjaveeni and her group are touring the United States to raise awareness of the challenges of educating millions in rural and tribal parts of India.

To create primary education in such places, the non-profit group, Ekal Vidyalaya, wants to establish simple and informal one-teacher schools in 100,000 villages in India by 2013.

The Sanjeevani tour will benefit these projects. While the concert is free and open to the public, donations will be gratefully accepted. By 2013, Ekal Vidyalaya hopes to open its one-teacher schools in 100,000 villages in India that lack basic education today.


The URI Multicultural Center is located at 74 Lower College Road, Kingston, 02881.