Actor-director Farhan Akhtar wooed Bangalore for a second time. In the avatar of a musician, this time, he and his brand new rock band ‘Farhan Live’ belted numbers at Jayamahal Palace on November 9.
Hundreds of fans flocked to the venue to catch the multi-faceted personality in the flesh. The band comprises excellent musicians like Shannon Donald on vocals, Sarosh Izedyar on guitars, Dibyajyoti Nath on bass, Darshan Doshi on drums and Umaang Doshi on keyboards.
Kicking off the concert with the widely popular Sindbad the Sailor, Farhan continued to sing tracks from his movies like Dil Chahta Hai, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Lakshya, Rock On!! and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Some of the crowd favourites were definitely Socha Hai, Zinda (with Shankar Mahdevan’s son Sidharth Mahadevan making an appearance on the vocals for this one), Pichle Saat Dino Mein, and the slower tracks like Tum Ho To and Tumhari Meri Baatein. Shannon Donald was an absolute delight, accompanying Farhan on the vocals and sometimes elevating a song to a whole new level.
When asked if he’ll consider playing original compositions, Farhan said, at a press meet held before the show, “That is the way forward for me and for any band. Apart from my films and the music being worked out for those, I’m collaborating with other musicians, writing original tracks, and it’s all work-in-progress. Fortunately, I have a lot of time on my hands now. I don’t start my next project for another four months. So I’m hoping in these next few months, you’ll all get to hear at least three or four original songs.”
Farhan also mentioned that he has always liked the raw sound of a live act. “I try to retain that sound, for the most part (of the show). But since I’m working with a lot of other artistes, they bring in their own influences so it ends up being an interesting new sound,” he said.
Mid-concert, Farhan also took time to remind everyone about the MARD (Men Against Rape and Discrimination) initiative that he had launched in Bangalore, a year ago, highlighting crimes against women. “What is this country that I live in/ That takes away her right to love/ Brutalises her with an iron glove/ Rapes her without fear/ Of there being justice for her tear/ We've demeaned our goddesses/ Gone back on all our promises/ Become a gender distorted nation/ Given our conscience a permanent vacation,” recited Farhan, speaking up against the innumerable atrocities committed against women in India. A father to two daughters, Farhan urged the audience to continue fighting against injustice and to work towards peace and harmony.
Of Farhan’s performance, it can be said, he was aware of his limits and let his band take over graciously from time to time. A performer par excellence, he knew how to get the crowd going, and we sure have been charmed.