Farhan rocks!!
| Date :31-Oct-2022 |
By Farina Salim Quraishi
‘Rock on! Yeh Hai Waqt Ka Ishara’, was a sentiment shared by scores of music aficionados who came to witness ace musician and filmmaker Farhan Akhtar live, on Sunday night. In a concert that felt like the most happening music lovers’ gathering of the year, especially after the pandemic; everyone present felt the groove and happily echoed: ‘Rock on’ along with the star of the evening! Organised by Rechord Music Festival, Farhan Akhtar’s concert was held at the Fun Planet, Koradi Road.
The concert was a rock show through and through. Deafening chants of ‘Farhan, Farhan, Farhan’ rent the air as soon as the clock struck the hour, signalling the eagerness of the fans. The crowd screamed out loud for Farhan to take the stage; and when the lights dimmed, the audience went into an overjoyed overdrive as Farhan Akhtar finally ran onto the stage with style in his stride and a ‘nazm’ on his lips. Despite Farhan’s relatively low musical presence lately, the sold-out crowd was eager for a show filled with Farhan’s signature songs and tunes and were not disappointed.
Farhan delivered on the promise with some incredible energy, amazing music, colourful lights and vocals straight from the heart! Farhan and his entourage delivered an energetic 150-minute set, which was loud and mellifluous and got hundreds of Nagpurians clapping and cheering heartily. The unforgettable opening lines ‘Zinda ho’ from ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ was a ‘zindadil’ precursor to the heady evening.
After setting the stage on fire with his opening act with ‘Sinbad the Sailor’, Farhan rallied the crowd in a sing-along call. Audiences, too, were on their toes ready to sing their hearts out for the star singer, while the band performed his greatest hits. The audience, unsurprisingly, instinctively sang the hooks while Farhan rocked out on the stage throughout the high-energy show. The concert became so much more animated as the night went on. The ‘Atrangi Yaari’ hitmaker delighted fans with thrilling high notes amidst explosive light beams and crescendo-heavy music which kept on peaking!
The crowd went wild when Farhan performed ‘Dil dhadakne do’, ‘Senorita’, ‘Zinda’, and many more. With lively interaction, trademark wit, relatable reminisces, and a resounding message for women’s safety, Farhan made the evening all the more special. The rest of the line-up included Yashraj, Dikshant, and Apeksha. When the time came for the curtain call, the audience, however, demanded more and encore was the buzzword of the evening.
When the curtains finally came down, the audience heartily gave the band a standing, thunderous ovation. The reverberation of applause did not stop ringing long after Farhan had left the stage. But a few minutes later, Farhan came back on the stage for a couple of more songs and a thrilling ‘jugalbandi’, sending everyone out with one last memorable shot from the inimitable rockstar.
In a performance filled with much life and much more music, Farhan’s groovy concert reminded everyone present why live shows were still relevant and why the wait was all worth it. With a satiated soul and heartful of memories, it was musical nite Nagpurians surely would not forget in a hurry.