Bhanu P Lohumi
Shimla, July 5
Harmony of the Pines, the Himachal Pradesh Police orchestra, has become the first "band in khakhi to perform on television for the maximum number of times and enter the grand finale of a TV programme". On the basis of the achievement, the band will apply for the Guinness World Records.
"We have received a letter from organisers of 'Hunarbaaz ndash; Desh Ki Shaan' programme telecast on 'Colours' channel with details of our performance, time span and other necessary information and will now apply for Guinness World Records", said singer and anchor Sub-Inspector Vinay Kumar, the overall in-charge of the band.
The band comprising 17 members, including six singers, shot to limelight after it performed in "Hunarbaaz ndash; Desh Ki Shaan" programme and stood third in the grand finale.
Formed in 1996 with seven members and little facilities, Harmony of the Pines is the first officially approved band by the government in the country. "When we started, there was no equipment and sound system and, at times, people used to feel that we made noise. The band was on the verge of collapse when two police officials retired and two others left," recalls Vijay.
However, they got a lease of life with the recruitment of Naresh (now head constable) in 2006. He plays saxophone and flute and has received several offers from Mumbai. In 2016, the cadre was approved and posts were sanctioned. The band started performing in functions, radio, Doordharshan and got recognition but it was DGP Sanjay Kundu, who encouraged them and it is because of him that the band was acknowledged and talent appreciated, he added.
This year, the prestigious Shimla Summer Festival started with the police band night and the band was also the star performer in Shoolini Festival in Solan. The recent performance of Harmony of the Pines was on the Attari border in Punjab on July 3 where they sang 20-25 patriotic songs in the presence of about 1.5 lakh people during the programme ndash; "Harmony of the Pines ki ek shaam BSF shahidon ke naam".
The band has made three official videos, "Covid mantra", "Say no to drugs" and "Garv hai hume garv hai" and the one-minute clip of song "Koi mil gaya" released by the band on Instagram was watched by 25 million people and celebrities like actor Raveena Tandon, director Rohit Shetty and cricketer Suresh Raina shared the clip.
The achievement
- Harmony of the Pines has become the first band in khakhi to perform on television for the maximum number of times.
- The band of 17 members, including six singers, shot to limelight after it performed in 'Hunarbaaz ndash; Desh Ki Shaan' programme and stood third in the grand finale.
