NEW DELHI: It really doesn't get any bigger than this. Bringing the cult figures of the small screen and those aspiring to become larger than life on the silver screen is a music video and album with a purpose - to spread public awareness about AIDS.

Literally about lending a hand to support a cause, the song "Haath Se Haath Milaa" has been written by Javed Akhtar, composed by Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy and sung by Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal. Shot on celluloid, the track, which features over 40 film stars and 10 top television stars, is quite a feat in terms of just numbers.

"The whole idea about `Haath Se Haath Milaa' was to create an inspiring song and video that would make it cool and fashionable to talk about HIV/AIDS, as it is only through frank and open discussion that we can raise awareness," says Anu Malhotra, Creative Head of "Haath Se Haath Milaa", who has conceived and directed this music video and designed the television series.

Superstars


Apart from the current hot pair of John Abraham and Bipasha Basu, the video also features superstars from yesteryears. Waheeda Rehman, Fardeen Khan, Zayed Khan, Shilpa Shetty, Dia Mirza, Raveena Tandon, Jackie Shroff, Naseerudin Shah, Tabu, Lara Dutta, Sonu Nigam, Riya Sen, Kunal Kapoor and Tusshar Kapoor will also be part of the video.

The `bahus' of the television world will not be left out, with Smriti Irani and Saakshi Tanwar supporting the cause.

Projected as the most ambitious attempt ever to raise HIV/AIDS awareness among the youth, the album and music video "Haath Se Haath Milaa" was screened in Delhi on Monday by the BBC World Service Trust.

"I was the first one to be approached for this song a year ago and I readily agreed. The music video is superb and the effort amazing. So I am very happy to be part of this incredible show,'' says Sonu.

Campaign


"Haath Se Haath Milaa" introduced by BBC is the largest running HIV/AIDS awareness mass media campaign and is telecast every Thursday on Doordarshan I. The show brings to viewers a real life hero who has contributed to spreading awareness about AIDS.

"We want to create inspirational role models for the youth of this country by applauding the Yuva Star's commitment towards this social cause,'' says Anu Malhotra.

- hindu.com