Guests attending the Indian Newslink Indian Sports Awards ceremony held on April 9, 2014 at Alexandra Park were appreciative of Ashwin Anand, Director of AA Promotions, a talent hunter and show organiser, whose involvement and participation contributed to its success.
An audio engineer by profession, Ashwin is also a mobile recording artiste, providing a range of services including DJ, sound, lighting and live entertainment for weddings, birthday parties, receptions, and other events.
The young man began singing as a hobby but later became a professional singer winning no less than 14 titles including the ‘Best Singer of the South Pacific,’ ‘Golden Voice,’ and the ‘Highest Achievement Award.’
As his passion grew, so did the realisation that newcomers were struggling to get a platform to showcase their talent, just as he did earlier.
Exploring talent
He launched AA Promotions, dedicated to exploring and exposing talent in New Zealand.
The Company organises a number of programmes including High School Rockerz, Indian Diva and Humko Bhi Banna Hai Idol to achieve the objective.
He put together ‘Humko Bhi Banna Hai Idol,’ to promote young talent. Young and budding singers are coached to sing with confidence and become good stage performers. These youngsters are guided to become professionals so that audiences judging shows would be able to assess their abilities.
Ashwin organised ‘Indian Diva’ in 2006 and brought together a group to perform, with a female dancer taking the centre-stage. The show provided local talent a good opportunity to promote their talent.
Inter-School contest
In 2008, he launched ‘High School Rockerz,’ to provide a chance for young students in Auckland and Hamilton to compete in the Inter-Secondary Bollywood Dance Competition. The programme was also aimed at helping children in need.
“Each participating school produces a Bollywood theme dance of about six minutes, and in return AA Promotions provides them each with $300 cash, certificates to participating students along with refreshment for all the performers and teachers. All proceeds from this show go to ‘Ronald McDonald House Charity New Zealand’ through McDonalds West Auckland.
“Over the past six years, we have raised more than $80,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charity, given $33,000 in donations to our local schools, awarded $52,000 in top prizes and awards to performers and $24,000 worth of giveaways to audiences,” he said.
