Jammu and Kashmir's own Folk Studio earning praises for promoting Dogri melodies

Forgotten by the present generation, locally known as Premi Jatt relived the moment when shared the stage at Jammu’s own ‘Folk Studio’ with renowned singer Sonali Dogra—the winner of Voice of Punjab, Season 6 in 2016.

Brain child of Natya Roots Production, Jammu Folk Studio is earning praises from the Dogra community living across the globe for promoting the regional melodies that remained shelved for years.

The Natya Roots Production Head, Aakash Dogra—the man behind Folk Studio Melodies speaking to UNI says that the motive behind the initiative is to take Dogri Language to the next level.

“If other regional languages are becoming popular all over then why not the Dogri and being a Jammuite, I thought of promoting my mother tongue,” Dogra expressed, stating that it rejuvenated him by bringing the Dogri singers—the young & the old—at one platform.

“Months after visualising the dream, after hard efforts, execution turned into reality and in July ending, the melodious Dogri mash up of Folk Studio Season 1 featuring Premi Jatt, Romalo Ram, Sonali Dogra and Sars Bharti was released,” said Dogra, who himself is a renowned dancer, choreographer and a filmmaker.

In Season 1, out of a total eight (Dogri and regional languages), three songs have been released, said Dogra adding, “a beautifully decorated set for shooting the songs was temporarily established in Jammu. The singers were not even aware of the concept and were taken by surprise after the release of the songs.”

Inspired from folk studio formats popular on social media, Folk Studio Melodies Jammu is gaining global praise from the Dogra community for an innovative and trendy way of reconnecting the Dogri speaking people.

“It is good to teach every language to our kids but at the same time parents should also speak in Dogri with children because it is our mother tongue,” suggests Dogra stating that the Dogra community living in any part of the World, must not forget their roots and encourage ‘maa boli’ Dogri in all aspects.

However, apart from ‘Loko Migi Taang Sajne Di’, ‘Nai Kar Goriye’ sung by Suraj Singh, Sonali Dogra and siblings Roohi Singh and Joohi Singh and ‘Niki Niki Loi’ by Sonali Dogra and Waqar Khan released on August 18, flooded with appreciations, remained back to back hits on the social media.

Moreover, contributions of about 80 people in the crew made this project a success for Natya Roots Production House, says Dogra.

Executive Producer of the project is Sandeep Verma while Music is composed by Kabul Bukhari and other singers included Krishna Kumari, Raman Salathia, Nirbhay Salathia, Suresh Chouhan, Kabul Bukhari, Zartashaa Zaineb and Rinku from Mansar.