DEL48 (read D.E.L. Forty-Eight) was an Indian idol group whose name is derived from its based city in New Delhi, India. They are the ninth international sister group of AKB48, after Indonesia's JKT48, China's SNH48 (former),  Thailand's BNK48, Philippines's MNL48, China's AKB48 Team SH,  Taiwan's AKB48 Team TP, Vietnam's SGO48 (disbanded), and Thailand's CGM48. Adopting the concept of "idols you can meet". Formed in 2019, the group went on a hiatus in October 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later disbanded in July 2022.

DEL48
Former DEL48 Members
Background information
OriginDelhi, India
GenresPop, Indian pop, J-pop, teen pop, bubblegum pop
Years active2019 (2019)–2022 (2022)
LabelsYKBK48 Entertainment Pvt Ltd
MembersDEL48 Members
Past membersSee more...
Websitedel48.com

History

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2018: Planning of MUM48

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During a livestream in December 2017, AKB48's general manager Yui Yokoyama announced the formation of MUM48, AKB48's supposed 8th sister group based in Mumbai, India. The group will be operated by Rashmi Raj Media Pvt. Ltd., a company by producer Rashmi Sharma.[1][2] An event was held to promote the group, with "girls power" and "women empowerment" as the theme of the group.[3] Audition was soon held, but stopped abruptly in July 2018; the website became inaccessible and their social media platform stopped posting.[4]

2019: Creation of DEL48 and MUB48

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On 19 June 2019, an event was held to announce the formation of DEL48 and MUB48.[5] Both groups will be managed by AKS and YKBK48 Entertainment Pvt. ltd., a company headquartered in Gurgaon, with Yoshiya Kato serving as chairman and Rohit Bakshi as CEO of the company. The groups would be an addition to the AKB48 overseas sister group, following JKT48, BNK48, MNL48, AKB48 Team SH, AKB48 Team TP, SGO48, and CGM48.[6][7] The groups took their name from the proposed base location of New Delhi and Mumbai, India. The groups are based on the concept of 'idols with whom fans can meet' and will be involved in the entertainment industry including theater performance, concert, other entertainment events, music record release, movies, media appearance, etc.[8] Following the announcement, DEL48 launched its own YouTube channel and announced that it would be accepting applications from girls aged between 12 and 20.[9] The first round of the first DEL48 audition took place from 19th to 31st July 2019, attracting more than 10,000 applicants.[6] Each audition was five-minutes long, consisting of a singing, acting, and dancing test.[10][11]

Ahead of AKB48's performance on NHK's 2019 Kouhaku Uta Gassen, it was announced the performance will also include a member of DEL48. On 30 December 2019, Glory is introduced in AKB48's theater in Tokyo, becoming the first member to be revealed.[12] The remaining 21 members were announced the next day, while Glory performed with AKB48 Group to sing Koi Suru Fortune Cookie. The group was confirmed to debut in Spring 2020 by Glory in a Japanese interview.[13]

2020–2022: Debut plans, hiatus, and disbandment

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The plan to debut the group in early 2020 was postponed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The group released its Overture in March 2020, followed by the release of its members' official Instagram and TikTok page.[14] An official TikTok page for the group was also opened, featuring the members dancing to AKB48 and BNK48's Koi Suru Fortune Cookie and the latter's High Tension.[15][16] The group later began a weekly upload on their Instagram and YouTube page with each members having their own contents.

In May 2020, DEL48 members, Reyna, Glory and Beanie, were featured alongside their sister groupmates in AKB48's performance on One Love Asia, an online charity concert organized by WebTVAsia and YouTube as part of UNICEF ASIA's #Reimagine global campaign to raise funds for children and families affected by the pandemic.[17]

In early October 2020, DEL48 members stopped posting on the group's official Instagram page and reopened their personal accounts, leading to rumors about disbandment. DEL48's producer, Deepak Nandal, later confirmed that YKBK48 Entertainment had terminated its members' contract.[18][19] He also confirmed the group have recorded its debut music video, an Indian version of Flying Get.[20] However, on 16 October 2020, DEL48 issued an official statement confirming the group is on indefinite suspension with the possibility of coming back in the future.[21]

On 13 July 2022, it was announced YKBK48 Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. will be closing up its operation, officially ending DEL48 and MUB48.[22]

Members

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On 30 December 2019, the first generation of the group was announced, consisting of 22 members.[23]

1st Generation members
Stage name Katakana Birth name Birth date (age)
Akki アッキ Aakanksha Bakshi (アーカンクシャ・バクシー) (1997-06-14) 14 June 1997 (age 27)
Anvi アンヴィ Sanvi Arora (サンヴィ・アロラ) (1998-08-08) 8 August 1998 (age 26)
Ashley アシュレイ Ashwin Virk (アシュウィン・ヴィルク) (2005-08-26) 26 August 2005 (age 19)
Beanie ビーニー Binita Budathoki (ビニダ・ブダトキ) (1996-11-16) 16 November 1996 (age 28)
Coco ココ Manasvini Pant (マナスヴァニ・パント) (2001-04-09) 9 April 2001 (age 23)
Eli エリ Eliza Sehgal (エリザ・セガル) (1997-09-21) 21 September 1997 (age 27)
Elsa エルサ Dhwani Singh (ドゥワニ・シン) (2002-03-15) 15 March 2002 (age 22)
Frey フレイ Freya Grover (フレヤ・グローバー) (2000-10-05) 5 October 2000 (age 24)
Glitter グリッター Vidushi (ビドゥシ) (2002-10-12) 12 October 2002 (age 22)
Glory グローリー Khushi Dua (クシ・ドゥア) (2003-08-27) 27 August 2003 (age 21)
Grace グレース Diksha Parmar (ディクシャ・パルマー) (1997-10-27) 27 October 1997 (age 27)
IKA イカ Bhavika Chadha (バヴィカ・チャダ) (1998-09-27) 27 September 1998 (age 26)
Iqra イクラ Iqra Khan (イクラ・カン) (2005-05-22) 22 May 2005 (age 19)
Kwin クウィン Sonali Singh (ソナリ・シン) (1998-01-01) 1 January 1998 (age 26)
Manna マンナ Mannat Sandhu (マンナト・サンドゥ) (1996-12-21) 21 December 1996 (age 27)
Mishaa ミシャー Mahika Sharma (マビカ・シャルマ) (1998-11-12) 12 November 1998 (age 26)
Mithu ミトゥー Loveena Nandwani (ロビナ・ナントワニ) (1998-08-01) 1 August 1998 (age 26)
Nina ニーナ Sonali Talwar ソナリ・タルワール (1997-05-17) 17 May 1997 (age 27)
Rach ラチ Rachna (ラチュナ) (1996-12-23) 23 December 1996 (age 27)
Reyna レイナ Shivangi Negi (シヴァンギ・ネギ) (1999-07-02) 2 July 1999 (age 25)
Sasha サシャ Samragyi Bansal (サムラキィ・バンサル) (2000-10-30) 30 October 2000 (age 24)
Tina ティナ Kiran (キラン) (1996-08-16) 16 August 1996 (age 28)

References

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  1. ^ @mumbai48 (20 January 2018). "#MUM48 is brought to you by Rashmi Raj Media Pvt. ltd. #AKB48 #girlgang #girlpower #NowInIndia #betibachao" – via Instagram.
  2. ^ @mumbai48 (20 January 2018). "Producer @msrashmi2002_ tells us all about #MUM48. Read on to find out! #AKB48 #nowinindia #girlpower" – via Instagram.
  3. ^ @mumbai48 (20 January 2018). "Our leading ladies promote #MUM48. #AKB48 #girlpower #womenempowerment" – via Instagram.
  4. ^ XMLThemes. "Situs Web Resmi MUM48 Tidak Bisa Diakses, Ditutup?" (in Indonesian). Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  5. ^ "YKBK48 Entertainment (P) Ltd launches "DEL48" & "MUB48" the Indian Chapter of the Sensational Japanese concept, "AKB48"". Indian Television. 20 June 2019. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  6. ^ a b "AKB48 announce Indian sister groups DEL48 & MUB48". ARAMA! JAPAN. 19 June 2019.
  7. ^ HKT48:次は福岡発! AKB48妹プロジェクト始動 (in Japanese). Mainichi Shimbun Digital Co.Ltd. 1 May 2011. Archived from the original on 26 October 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  8. ^ ""DEL48" & "MUB48" the Indian Chapter of the Sensational Japanese concept, "AKB48"". The Image Star. 21 June 2019. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  9. ^ Inc, Natasha. "インドに新たなAKB48姉妹グループ誕生、デリーのDEL48とムンバイのMUB48(コメントあり)". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). {{cite news}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ Viegas, Vanessa (23 November 2019). "Cute culture: Japan's biggest girl band is setting up sister groups in India". Hindustan Times.
  11. ^ Suhendro, Agung (20 June 2019). "Sambut Dua Anggota Baru Keluarga 48 Group dari India, DEL48 dan MUB48!". Media Formasi (in Indonesian).
  12. ^ 48Group News Outlet [@48newsoutlet] (December 28, 2019). "[NEWS] Here she is! DEL48's first revealed member that will be participating as AKB48 World senbatsu for NHK Kouhaku Utagessen! Her name is Glory! Please support her and DEL48!" (Tweet). Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "【アジアで会う】グローリーさん DEL48メンバー 第295回 ボリウッドの情熱、全身で表現(インド) インド・社会・事件". NNA.ASIA (in Japanese). Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  14. ^ @del48official (2 March 2020). "[DEL48 Overture] Get ready to be Grooved DELHI! Get Ready for Something you have never seen before! D E L 48 is here and so are we! Our First Surprise for you will be out very soon, stay tuned for more! #DEL48" – via Instagram.
  15. ^ @del48official (22 March 2020). "DEL48 Official TikTok Start! #DEL48 #TikTok #恋するフォーチュンクッキー #koisurufortunecookie #踊ってみた #AKB48cover" – via Instagram.
  16. ^ "TikTok". www.tiktok.com. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  17. ^ ONE LOVE ASIA HIGHLIGHTS | AKB48 GROUP | KOISURU FORTUNE COOKIE.
  18. ^ @48RequestHour (9 October 2020). "DEL48 has disbanded. YKBK48 Entertainment has announced that due to the pandemic, they can't keep the business going. The members have each opened now their personal accounts, confirming further this event" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. ^ "DEL48 Resmi Dibubarkan, Inilah Penjelasan dari Pihak YKBK48 Entertainment" (in Indonesian). overseasidol. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  20. ^ Taufani, Teddy. What Happened With DEL48? This is History and Journey of MUB48 & DEL48 in – #48TIME Eps. 2.
  21. ^ @del48official (16 October 2020). "To whomsoever it may concern. Temporarily Suspension of all DEL48 activities" – via Instagram.
  22. ^ @del48official (13 July 2022). "DEL48 and MUB48 announces closure YKBK48 Entertainment Pvt Ltd., which managed the 'DEL48' & 'MUB48' brands, will be closing following cessation of operations during COVID" – via Instagram.
  23. ^ "1st Generation Members". www.del48.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
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