NEW DELHI: The Commonwealth Games may be a year away but the mood for celebration has already been set in the capital. The lawns of the 17th century Red Fort on Saturday evening came alive to the vibrant music of leading playback singer Sonu Nigam. More than three hours before the show was to start, Delhiites had started queuing up outside the imposing monument to catch a glimpse of the popular star.
The event was part of the heritage series of the Delhi International Arts Festival (DIAF) in association with the Archaeological Survey of India. The audience waited restlessly till Nigam finally came on the stage a little after 8pm. But before he appeared in front of the crowd, a slow version of his popular song Kal Ho Na Ho, for which Nigam also won a National Award, filled the air. Dressed in dark-blue jeans, black shirt and a bronze-coloured jacket, Nigam looked all set for the entertainment that followed. Three colourfully-attired dancers accompanied him during the first song Falak Dekhoon. They were later joined by three male artistes who provided the perfect setting for Nigam's peppy numbers. The dancers made a reappearance during another of Nigam's romantic numbers Tu dede mera saath later in the show.
Nigam's repertoire of songs included numbers both from his films and music albums. Maintaining the tempo throughout the show, from Dil Dooba to Chak De Chak De Chak De, Nigam had the audience singing along. A break in the middle of the high tempo rendition was an old number Ajeeb Itefaq Hai-Kya Mulakat Hai which Nigam sang at someone's request for the first time on stage.
The audience responded with great enthusiasm to his stage presence and he faced no trouble keeping the atmosphere alive. "I came to Red Fort last when I was in school and all I know here are Diwan-e-Khas and Diwan-e-Aam. An event like this in Lal Qila is a huge deal and I would like to thank The Times of India for making it possible,'' he said.
Nigam took a break from singing for a short while when he offered to give the audience a demonstration of how songs are made. He picked on random words from the audience even names of vegetables and set them on music and also gave an idea of how different music directors would present the lyrics in their own respective style. Needless to say, his interaction with the audience and witty remarks had Delhiites in splits.
Towards the end, Nigam wove old Hindi film songs into a medley and had even the older members of the audience swaying to his charm. Between Tumko Paya Hai from Om Shanti Om and Tu Dede Mera Saath from Raaz came a nostalgic medley of Bol Radha Bol, Hum Hein Rahi Pyar Ke and Bachna Aye Hasino.
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