Sonu Nigam launches India's first transgender band

Mumbai

The Bollywood star has lent his voice to one of the songs of the group. Sonu said he had a great experience singing with the band, something he wanted to do from a long time.

"We are taking one step at a time. There are total six songs. I felt very happy singing with them. They were singing my songs all the time, they have a very good vibe. I really enjoyed their innocence and child-like energy," the singer told reporters here.

6-Pack Band comprises six transgenders singing original songs, including a cover version of Grammy-winner Pharrell Williams' hit "Happy".

Sonu added he felt pained to see transgenders being stereotyped in society. "When I was a child, I used to think what if I was born in a planet where people like me were in minority and others were majority... What would happen to me, my family because of that.

"It used to sadden me very much, that is there no way we can't give them (Transgenders) a respectable job, proper business... Why can't it happen that we see them at normal places. Why do we see them on the streets, at marriage. Till when this will go on. It used to pain me a lot," he told reporters," Sonu told reporters here.

The band has been curated by music-director Shamir Tandon, who said they chose the popular "Happy" song to launch the band as English songs have a wider reach.

"The idea was to transcend boundaries, so we thought instead of doing a Hindi song lets do an English one. They are always happy despite the fact that people abhor them, disrespect them. 'Happy', we hope, will be heard by everybody in the world."

The opening voice over of the song has been done by actress Anushka Sharma. Y-Films plans to release all the six music videos in the coming months.