Times of India

MUMBAI, Apr 21: At first glance, the high footfall at a mall in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, seems part of regular Sunday fun. But as one enters the inner circle of the mall's forecourt, Virag Wankhede's voice fills the air. Belting out popular Bollywood numbers, Wankhede is not part of an orchestra organised by the mall management to attract crowds. The young singer, a resident of Nerul, has actually set out to enter the Guinness Book of World Records by singing continuously for six days and nights. He began the feat by singing the melancholy Ma from Taare Zameen Par, dedicating his effort to his mother.

Wankhede said he had been preparing for this record since the past three years. "I did not want to participate in the routine song and dance contests on television. My idea was to create a record in the Guinness book," he said. A native of Amravati town in the Vidarbha region, Wankhede said he has been training in classical music for the past 15 years. "I have been practising music at the Gandharv Vidyalay in Vashi for several years now," he said.

But to earn his living, Wankhede worked for several music studios, big and small. Life has come full circle for him. After a decade of hard work, he has started a recording studio called Music Mania at the mall in Vashi. Interestingly, Guinness book officials were conspicuous by their absence. A member of Wankhede's family said a video recording of his feat will be sent to Guinness officials, for verification of his claim of being the first to sing non-stop for six days and nights.