Lucknow Echoes with the Launch of ‘Voice of UP’
A Stage for Every Voice Across Uttar Pradesh
Lucknow, 27 April. Fever Network officially announced ‘Voice of UP’ — Uttar Pradesh’s biggest voice talent hunt. The launch event, held under the banner of ‘Fever in UP: Ab MachegaBhaukaal’ at Centrum, Lucknow, brought together artists, creators, and industry stalwarts from across the state.
The event was graced by Padma Shri Malini Awasthi, retired IAS officer Awanish Kumar Awasthi, Bigg Boss narrator Vijay Vikram Singh, actor Sharib Hashmi, storyteller Laksh Maheshwari, and digital creators Maroof Culmen, ChotiPhilim, ApekshaGurnani and The Female Band. Vijay Vikram Singh said that the voices of UP have the power to be heard across the entire country. Sharib Hashmi and Laksh Maheshwari advised emerging creators to focus on content quality and consistency..
Padma Shri Malini Awasthi — ‘There Was Never a Shortage of Talent’
The most resonant moment of the evening came from Padma Shri Malini Awasthi. She said, “I see in every artist what I once was. Badaun, Farrukhabad, Kannauj — these are places where some of the most extraordinary artists in the world were born. But no one reaches there. There was never a shortage of talent — there was just no one to reach them.”
Speaking about today’s generation of creators, Malini ji said that this is an exceptionally confident generation — one that does not hesitate to step onto a stage. But she was equally clear that confidence alone is not enough. She urged creators to bring depth and seriousness to their content, because that is what will separate the good from the truly great.
Awanish Kumar Awasthi — ‘UP Ka Naya Daur’
Retired IAS officer and Advisor to the Chief Minister Awanish Kumar Awasthi said, “There was a time when people would hesitate to even say they were from UP — today, those same people say it with pride. Ayodhya and Varanasi are now among the most visited cities in the world. This is UP’s new era — and in this era, artists from every small town and village deserve a real stage. ‘Voice of UP’ is exactly that stage.”
Padma Shri Malini Awasthi, Vijay Vikram Singh, Maroof Culmen, ChotiPhilim, ApekshaGurnani and The Female Band were also felicitated with the first-ever Voice of UP Awards.The occasion was also graced by a distinguished gathering of industrialists and leading media agencies from across Uttar Pradesh. Several prominent business houses and agencies were recognised for their legacy and outstanding contribution with the title of ‘Voice of UP.’
