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Hindustan Times
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
From Papon to Anuv Jain: Musicians recall their first concert ever!
For every artist performing sold-out arenas and headlining music festivals today, there was once a first time—an unglamorous stage, modest crowds, nervous anticipation, and that unforgettable rush of being heard. From intimate café gigs and school festivals to chaotic underground rap shows, these first performances left an indelible mark on their journeys. We asked a range of Indian musicians—indie darlings, playback stars, and producers—about their very first concert. What they shared was a mix of nostalgia, vulnerability, and joy. Here's a peek into the raw, unfiltered beginnings of artists you've streamed, sung along with, and cheered for. Papon, Shilpa Rao and Anuv Jain among other musicians recall their first concert ever! Before his romantic ballads took over playlists, Stebin Ben was nervously setting foot in a small Bhopal café. 'It was a small setup, maybe 40-50 people, but the vibe was amazing,' he says. 'I was nervous, but once I started singing, the energy shifted.' What stayed with him even more than the ₹ 5,000 fee was the validation: 'A few people actually came up to me after the show and said they liked it—and that meant everything.' He would go on to save ₹ 20,000 from similar café shows and make the move to Mumbai. 'That's how it all began.' Shalmali Kholgade Around 2012, fresh off the release of her breakout song Pareshaan, Shalmali found herself performing at a Times of India event on Worli Seaface. 'I did it by myself, on tracks,' she recalls. 'I remember being excited but also clueless as to how it would go.' Despite the early jitters, she held her own and even earned a decent paycheck. 'I vaguely remember getting paid 50,000 or so for it,' she says. That first solo performance marked the start of her evolution from playback singer to a live performer who now commands massive festival crowds. Shilpa Rao For Shilpa Rao, her first concert memory is more a family story than her own. 'I have a very faint memory of it, actually,' she says, laughing. 'My parents have told me more about it than I remember myself.' She was just five when she joined her father on stage in Jamshedpur. 'He had taught me a few songs, expecting I'd sing just one and then sit quietly. But once I started singing, I didn't stop—I kept going!' She earned ₹ 101 that day, but what stayed with her was the pride on her father's face. 'That joy and pride my parents felt—that was priceless.' Papon Though known today for his deeply emotive songs and Assamese folk-electronic blend, Papon didn't leap into live shows right away. 'My first proper concert was in 2007, three years after my album launch,' he shares. 'I wanted the music to get popular first. Nobody knew me till then.' Encouraged by a friend, he finally agreed. 'Ronji, from the dhaba, he organised it. It cost 35K. We called my friends, some guitar players, and put together a proper show.' The response? 'Full house. That was the big concert. That's where it all started.' Akshat Acharya Before his breakout hit Naadaniyan struck a chord with indie music lovers, Akshat Acharya was just hoping his first concert wouldn't fall flat. 'I was really nervous—it was the first time we were performing our set in a full band format,' he shares. 'When you take pop songs and adapt them for a live band, it takes a lot of reworking.' To add to the pressure, the audience wasn't full of strangers. 'There were friends and people I work with—people I really respect. That definitely added pressure.' But once the band hit their stride, things changed. 'I had an absolute blast. For a first performance, we did pretty well. Looking back now, there's such a stark difference—it really helped shape who we are today.' Anuv Jain Before he was packing venues across India, Anuv Jain played his first-ever gig in 2019 in Chandigarh. 'There were about 100-150 people. It was a sit-down concert—very meditation-y, yoga sort of vibe,' he recalls. It was also the first time he performed a set of his own songs. 'I was paid around 10 grand—which was a huge amount for me back then.' But it wasn't just the money that changed things. 'That's when I thought—maybe I can become a musician.' Akanksha Bhandari In 2019, Akanksha Bhandari performed her first gig singing all covers. 'I made my own set for the show,' she says. 'It was a beautiful show.' Even though she wasn't paid, the impact was lasting. 'A lot of fans from that show still text me saying they saw me perform there and loved it.' Was she disappointed about not getting paid? Not at all. 'It was a new space, but getting that opportunity was brilliant. I won't ever complain about it.' OAFF Long before scoring Gehraiyaan, OAFF performed at CEPT University in Ahmedabad with his friend longtime collaborator Savera, in the early 2000s. 'We were the only school kids performing there while all the other bands were much, much older,' he remembers. 'It was a community thing—everyone played for free. At least we weren't paid!' Despite their age, the duo held their ground. 'It was really, really cool. Definitely a first gig to remember.' Chaar Diwari Rapper Chaar Diwaari's debut show was as chaotic as it was unforgettable. 'It was a show featuring some of the best underground Delhi rappers—Arpit Bala, Faizan, J Block,' he says. 'I held the mic as Chaar Diwari for the first time. I was jumping around—I didn't even look good doing it!' He used regular earphones as makeshift in-ear monitors and tried to perform his freshly composed song Bhul Ja, but the DJ couldn't play it. Still, he got a warm welcome and stayed for the afterparty. 'I didn't get paid—actually, I gave money because I had to buy a ticket. But it was totally worth it. One of my core memories as a musician.'
India Today
2 days ago
- General
- India Today
Education ministry urges 7 states to adopt common board for Classes 10, 12
The Ministry of Education has recommended that seven states — Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Kerala, Manipur, Odisha, Telangana, and West Bengal — transition to a common board system for Classes 10 and 12. This move comes after a detailed analysis by the Department of School Education flagged these states as accounting for nearly 66% of all student failures in board examinations last India has 66 school examination boards, comprising three at the national level and 63 at the state level (54 regular and 12 open boards). Data shows that while the top 33 boards cover 97% of students, the remaining 33 boards serve just 3%, raising concerns about their effectiveness and reach."Adopting a unified board structure for Classes 10 and 12 can greatly improve the schooling experience and outcomes. Lack of standardisation has led to inconsistencies in student performance," said School Education Secretary Sanjay FAILURE RATES SPARK CONCERN In 2024, over 22.17 lakh students failed the Class 10 exams, while 20.16 lakh failed Class 12. While these figures reflect an improvement from previous years, they remain a significant hurdle in ensuring smooth transition to higher education and reducing dropout analysis revealed that open school boards continue to struggle, with only 54% of Class 10 and 57% of Class 12 students passing. Officials stressed the need for the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to expand its reach, especially in states with high failure rates. Currently, NIOS has a stronger presence in Delhi, Rajasthan, and Haryana — states that also have some of the lowest student failure rates."There is a need to standardise assessments, curriculum design, paper setting, promotion criteria, and exam schedules across all boards. Institutions like NIOS must enhance their outreach to ensure students remain within the education system, supported by initiatives like Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and active parental engagement," Kumar OUTPERFORM BOYS IN SCIENCE STREAMA positive trend noted in the report was the increasing success of girls in board exams, particularly in science. More than 28 lakh girls cleared science subjects in 2024, surpassing the 27.2 lakh in the arts stream — a significant shift from 2022 when the number stood at 23.3 report also highlighted disparities in performance based on the language of instruction. Students writing exams in Odia and Malayalam consistently outperformed those in Kannada, Telugu, or Assamese. Interestingly, Kerala, Odisha, and Manipur — states that have integrated or centralised board systems — reported exceptional pass percentages, with Kerala achieving a staggering 99.96% success SCHOOLS LEAD IN COMPETITVE EXAM SUCCESSAdditionally, centrally managed institutions like Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVs) and Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) continue to deliver strong academic performances. In NEET-UG 2024, 72% of students from NVs qualified, while both KVs and NVs maintained impressive results in engineering entrance exams as Vidyalayas, known for their residential, co-educational setup, aim to provide quality education to talented students from rural backgrounds. Their consistent success, especially in competitive exams, underscores the value of structured and standardised educational Reel
Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Education Ministry recommends 7 states to adopt common board for Classes 10th, 12th as analysis flags poor outcomes
The Ministry of Education has recommended seven states to adopt a common board for classes 10 and 12 after an analysis by the School Education Department flagged that these states accounted for 66 per cent of student failures last year, officials said. The seven states are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Kerala, Manipur, Odisha, Telangana and West Bengal. There are a total of 66 school examination boards in the country, including three national-level boards and 63 state-level boards (54 regular and 12 open boards), while the top 33 boards cover 97 per cent of students, the remaining 33 boards cover just 3 per cent of students. 'Common board for class 10 and 12 is the way forward for ease of schooling. Not having a common board leads to poor academic outcomes. We have recommended these states to adopt a common board,' School Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar said. A total of 22.17 lakh students failed Class 10, and 20.16 lakh failed Class 12 across the country in 2024. While the numbers have improved over the decade, officials say they remain a significant barrier to better retention and transition to higher education. 'Role of National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) in these states became important to engage the unsuccessful students in education. NIOS's present prominence around Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana (where there are least failure rates), needs to be expanded to other states. 'Standardisation of assessment process, curriculums, paper setting, elevation (to the next class), exam span also needs attention of Boards,' Kumar said. The analysis pointed out that open school boards performed poorly, with only 54 per cent of Class 10 and 57 percent of Class 12 students passing. 'Institutions like NIOS must step up efforts to prevent dropouts, supported by the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and increased parental engagement,' Kumar said. A major trend noted is that girls are outperforming boys across most boards, especially in science. More than 28 lakh girls passed in science, overtaking the 27.2 lakh in arts — a reversal of earlier trends and a rise from 23.3 lakh in 2022. The analysis flagged significant differences among students' performance in different mediums of instruction. Students taking exams in Odia and Malayalam mediums did significantly better than peers writing in Kannada, Telugu or Assamese, highlighting regional disparities. States like Kerala, Odisha and Manipur, which have integrated board systems, recorded pass rates above 97 per cent, with Kerala at 99.96 per cent. The analysis report also noted strong performances from Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVs), where 72 per cent of the students cleared NEET-UG. Students from Kendriya and Navodaya Vidyalayas also fared well in engineering entrance tests. The NVs are fully residential, co-educational schools providing quality modern education from Class VI to XII to talented children, predominantly from rural areas.
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
22 lakh students failed class 10 in 2024, Centre pushes for board standardisation in 7 states
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Education has recommended seven states to adopt a common board for classes 10 and 12 after an analysis by the School Education Department flagged that these states accounted for 66 per cent of student failures last year, officials said. The seven states are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Kerala, Manipur, Odisha, Telangana and West Bengal. There are a total of 66 school examination boards in the country, including three national-level boards and 63 state-level boards (54 regular and 12 open boards), While the top 33 boards cover 97 per cent of students, the remaining 33 boards cover just 3 per cent of students. "Common board for class 10 and 12 is the way forward for ease of schooling. Not having a common board leads to poor academic outcomes. We have recommended these states to adopt a common board," School Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar said. A total of 22.17 lakh students failed Class 10, and 20.16 lakh failed Class 12 across the country in 2024. While the numbers have improved over the decade, officials say they remain a significant barrier to better retention and transition to higher education. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo "Role of National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) in these states became important to engage the unsuccessful students in education. NIOS's present prominence around Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana (where there are least failure rates), needs to be expanded to other states. "Standardisation of assessment process, curriculums, paper setting, elevation (to the next class), exam span also needs attention of Boards," Kumar said. The analysis pointed out that open school boards performed poorly, with only 54 per cent of Class 10 and 57 percent of Class 12 students passing. "Institutions like NIOS must step up efforts to prevent dropouts, supported by the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and increased parental engagement," Kumar said. A major trend noted is that girls are outperforming boys across most boards, especially in science. More than 28 lakh girls passed in science, overtaking the 27.2 lakh in arts - a reversal of earlier trends and a rise from 23.3 lakh in 2022. The analysis flagged significant differences among students' performance in different mediums of instruction. Students taking exams in Odia and Malayalam mediums did significantly better than peers writing in Kannada, Telugu or Assamese, highlighting regional disparities. States like Kerala, Odisha and Manipur, which have integrated board systems, recorded pass rates above 97 per cent, with Kerala at 99.96 per cent. The analysis report also noted strong performances from Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVs), where 72 per cent of the students cleared NEET-UG. Students from Kendriya and Navodaya Vidyalayas also fared well in engineering entrance tests. The NVs are fully residential, co-educational schools providing quality modern education from Class VI to XII to talented children, predominantly from rural areas. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
Economic Times
2 days ago
- General
- Economic Times
Centre recommends 7 states to adopt common board for class 10, 12 as analysis flags poor outcomes
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Ministry of Education has recommended seven states to adopt a common board for classes 10 and 12 after an analysis by the School Education Department flagged that these states accounted for 66 per cent of student failures last year, officials seven states are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Kerala, Manipur, Odisha, Telangana and West are a total of 66 school examination boards in the country, including three national-level boards and 63 state-level boards (54 regular and 12 open boards),While the top 33 boards cover 97 per cent of students, the remaining 33 boards cover just 3 per cent of students."Common board for class 10 and 12 is the way forward for ease of schooling. Not having a common board leads to poor academic outcomes. We have recommended these states to adopt a common board," School Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar said.A total of 22.17 lakh students failed Class 10, and 20.16 lakh failed Class 12 across the country in the numbers have improved over the decade, officials say they remain a significant barrier to better retention and transition to higher education."Role of National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) in these states became important to engage the unsuccessful students in education. NIOS's present prominence around Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana (where there are least failure rates), needs to be expanded to other states."Standardisation of assessment process, curriculums, paper setting, elevation (to the next class), exam span also needs attention of Boards," Kumar analysis pointed out that open school boards performed poorly, with only 54 per cent of Class 10 and 57 percent of Class 12 students passing."Institutions like NIOS must step up efforts to prevent dropouts, supported by the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and increased parental engagement," Kumar said.A major trend noted is that girls are outperforming boys across most boards, especially in science. More than 28 lakh girls passed in science, overtaking the 27.2 lakh in arts - a reversal of earlier trends and a rise from 23.3 lakh in analysis flagged significant differences among students' performance in different mediums of taking exams in Odia and Malayalam mediums did significantly better than peers writing in Kannada, Telugu or Assamese, highlighting regional disparities. States like Kerala, Odisha and Manipur, which have integrated board systems, recorded pass rates above 97 per cent, with Kerala at 99.96 per analysis report also noted strong performances from Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVs), where 72 per cent of the students cleared NEET-UG. Students from Kendriya and Navodaya Vidyalayas also fared well in engineering entrance NVs are fully residential, co-educational schools providing quality modern education from Class VI to XII to talented children, predominantly from rural areas. PTI
