NEW DELHI: Every square inch of the venue echoed with her melodic renditions. She got the audience hooting and cheering within minutes of taking the stage. Everyone from diplomats to industrialists, students to professionals, were seen enjoying the riveting performance by the brightest star on the horizon of popular music—Shreya Ghoshal. Organised by The Sunday Standard, Sur Sangam was the first concert in the capital that was part of a series of musical extravaganzas that its parent company, The New Indian Express Group, is hosting around the country. Ghoshal of course was the obvious choice, given the fact that besides being the enchanting voice of Hindi cinema, she has also sung in Assamese, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu, bringing a whole variety to the stage. She was accompanied by her male vocalist Shivprasad Mallya, and their team of musicians who set the stage on fire. “I am so happy I could be part of this mega event for the Express Group. Singing to an auditorium full of discerning audience is the best thing a performer can ask for,” she said.
A young achiever and youth icon, Shreya, who caught the attention of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali when she participated in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, a popular TV programme, for the second time, has today caught the
attention of an entire generation.
Opening the night with her most recent number, Teri meri prem kahani from Bodyguard, Shreya managed to up the tempo in a matter of seconds and continued with an unbridled fervour throughout the evening. Up next were foot-tapping numbers like Jadoo hai nasha hai, Teri ore, Barso re, Yeh ishq haye, Piyu bole, Zoobi doobi, Dola re dola, Ooh la la, Chikni chameli and many others. Singing uninterrupted for almost three hours to a packed house, she dedicated one of her most popular numbers, Tujh mein rab dikhta hai, to everybody who has loved and encouraged her over the years. “It is you people who made me popular. I am most excited to stand on this incredible platform and see everybody grooving to my songs. I am so blessed to have music and all of you in my life,” she said, visibally excited to be a part of the success of India’s most credible and authoritative weekend paper.
Specifically keeping in mind the readers and patrons of good music, The Sunday Standard plans to host many such events—big and small—to celebrate its presence in Delhi. A ‘by invitation only’ show ensured an exclusive audience that truly values and appreciates music. This Shreya Ghoshal concert was the first of them, paving the way for many others. See you there next time.