BY SONAM MIRPURI
PASADENA, CA - Spectacular, fast-paced, and high-energy are a few of the choicest words to elaborate on the experience which left fans vibrant and energized as Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani, and Loy Mendonsa, more well-known and recognized as Shankar Ehsaan and Loy were presented by Sankara Eye Foundation...
PASADENA, CA - Spectacular, fast-paced, and high-energy are a few of the choicest words to elaborate on the experience which left fans vibrant and energized as Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani, and Loy Mendonsa, more well-known and recognized as Shankar Ehsaan and Loy were presented by Sankara Eye Foundation...
along with Farhan Akhtar live in concert on August 25 at the Convention Center here. For three hours straight, the talented artists came to the stage sang, danced, and entertained. Despite requests and warnings from auditorium staff, fans in large numbers took to the aisles and all free spaces available to go crazy and dance.
Two vivacious ladies, Shannon Donald and Shrinidhi Ghatate, opened the concert by singing Aaj Ki Raat from Don. Murali Krishnamurthy, Executive Chairman of Sankara Eye Foundation , came to the stage to introduce the organization and its goals which is to reach out to the rural poor in India and to provide them with quality eye care free of cost at super specialty eye care hospitals across India. At present, SEF has nine hospitals. By early 2020, there will be a total of 12 hospitals
throughout India. “Donate blindly so we can open eyes,” said Krishnamurthy.
30 seconds of silence was then observed to honor Arizona Senator John McCain, who lost his battle to cancer.
The show continued with a video of Akhtar skydiving in the background. Akhtar began by reciting the poem Toh Zinda Ho Tum from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara offstage. Once he recited the first line, fans immediately started screaming and cheering for him. Appearing on stage he began with Sinbad the Sailor from Rock On!!, Dil Dhadakne Do from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, and Pehli Baar from Dil Dhadakne Do. This first selection hit it off with the audience.
Akhtar jumped, bounced, and danced all around the stage and his energy fueled the audience who could no longer contain themselves. During Dil Dhadakne Do they got on their feet to dance in the aisles.
Donald sang along with Akhtar for his entire set to complete the vocal dynamic which required a female singer.
As Akhtar sang, sporadically he would point his microphone toward the audience who happily responded by singing the next line of lyrics. “It is going to be that kind of night so I’m sure and I would hope all of you have put on your dancing shoes before coming here,” said Akhtar. The electrifying enthusiasm Akhtar presented to the audience was reciprocated to him by everyone who kept dancing, screaming, and cheering.
Song requests were being screamed at Akhtar from the audience who wanted to hear their favorites . The most requested song was Señorita from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Akhtar not only sang this song, he and Donald danced along as well. The performance garnered so much love that it got an encore presentation.
The title track from Dil Dhadakne Do and Maston Ka Jhund from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag were his next most loved songs of the evening.With Maston Ka Jhund, Akhtar’s set came to an end.
“Three amazing artists, great musicians, and my dear friends, please put your hands together for Shankar Ehsaan and Loy,” said Akhtar. Within seconds of hearing the opening beats of the title track of Kal Ho Naa Ho fans started cheering and screaming. In between the beats, Shankar took time to announce that he along with Ehsaan and Loy have completed 22 years of composing music together. He also told them that they decided to start with Kal Ho Naa Ho because it was a very special song.
“We would like to dedicate this song to all you wonderful people who have made this happen and for your best wishes,” he said.
Shankar then spoke about his affiliation with Farhan. Breathless was his first association with Farhan and Zoya Akhtar.
Tere Naina from My Name is Khan, Mast Magan from 2 States, and Uff Teri Adaa from Karthik Calling Karthik were the next few songs that garnered much appreciation. Tere Naina seemingly a perfect fit, was dedicated to SEF.
To assist Shankar , Ghatate came on stage to sing the female vocals for the entirety of the Shankar Ehsaan and Loy set.
Baawre from Luck by Chance, Locha-E-Ulfat from 2 States, and Woh Ladki Hai Kahan from Dil Chahta Hai were the subsequent tracks which received the most appreciation from fans.
Shankar took the time to demonstrate the hook step for Locha-E-Ulfat and Woh Ladki Hai Kahan so that everyone in the audience could dance as he sang. For Woh Ladki Hai Kahan not only did he have the audience performing the hook step, he had Ghatate and all of his bandmates did it as well.
The title track from Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, It’s the Time to Disco from Kal Ho Naa Ho, and Shankar’s famously known Breathless left no one still in their seat.
Shankar called Farhan back on stage. Together they sang the title track of Rock On!!. They then welcomed Darshan Mehta, national promoter from Shri Balaji Entertainment, to the stage to thank him for making the show possible. Shankar then asked everyone standing in front of the stage if they wanted the final song to be the title song from Dil Chahta Hai or Gallan Goodiyaan from Dil Dhadakne Do. Gallan Goodiyaan got the most screams so that was the grand finale number. It was a dynamic and momentous finale performance by Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy, Farhan, Donald, and Ghatate, an epic note to end the show.
Two vivacious ladies, Shannon Donald and Shrinidhi Ghatate, opened the concert by singing Aaj Ki Raat from Don. Murali Krishnamurthy, Executive Chairman of Sankara Eye Foundation , came to the stage to introduce the organization and its goals which is to reach out to the rural poor in India and to provide them with quality eye care free of cost at super specialty eye care hospitals across India. At present, SEF has nine hospitals. By early 2020, there will be a total of 12 hospitals
throughout India. “Donate blindly so we can open eyes,” said Krishnamurthy.
30 seconds of silence was then observed to honor Arizona Senator John McCain, who lost his battle to cancer.
The show continued with a video of Akhtar skydiving in the background. Akhtar began by reciting the poem Toh Zinda Ho Tum from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara offstage. Once he recited the first line, fans immediately started screaming and cheering for him. Appearing on stage he began with Sinbad the Sailor from Rock On!!, Dil Dhadakne Do from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, and Pehli Baar from Dil Dhadakne Do. This first selection hit it off with the audience.
Akhtar jumped, bounced, and danced all around the stage and his energy fueled the audience who could no longer contain themselves. During Dil Dhadakne Do they got on their feet to dance in the aisles.
Donald sang along with Akhtar for his entire set to complete the vocal dynamic which required a female singer.
As Akhtar sang, sporadically he would point his microphone toward the audience who happily responded by singing the next line of lyrics. “It is going to be that kind of night so I’m sure and I would hope all of you have put on your dancing shoes before coming here,” said Akhtar. The electrifying enthusiasm Akhtar presented to the audience was reciprocated to him by everyone who kept dancing, screaming, and cheering.
Song requests were being screamed at Akhtar from the audience who wanted to hear their favorites . The most requested song was Señorita from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Akhtar not only sang this song, he and Donald danced along as well. The performance garnered so much love that it got an encore presentation.
The title track from Dil Dhadakne Do and Maston Ka Jhund from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag were his next most loved songs of the evening.With Maston Ka Jhund, Akhtar’s set came to an end.
“Three amazing artists, great musicians, and my dear friends, please put your hands together for Shankar Ehsaan and Loy,” said Akhtar. Within seconds of hearing the opening beats of the title track of Kal Ho Naa Ho fans started cheering and screaming. In between the beats, Shankar took time to announce that he along with Ehsaan and Loy have completed 22 years of composing music together. He also told them that they decided to start with Kal Ho Naa Ho because it was a very special song.
“We would like to dedicate this song to all you wonderful people who have made this happen and for your best wishes,” he said.
Shankar then spoke about his affiliation with Farhan. Breathless was his first association with Farhan and Zoya Akhtar.
Tere Naina from My Name is Khan, Mast Magan from 2 States, and Uff Teri Adaa from Karthik Calling Karthik were the next few songs that garnered much appreciation. Tere Naina seemingly a perfect fit, was dedicated to SEF.
To assist Shankar , Ghatate came on stage to sing the female vocals for the entirety of the Shankar Ehsaan and Loy set.
Baawre from Luck by Chance, Locha-E-Ulfat from 2 States, and Woh Ladki Hai Kahan from Dil Chahta Hai were the subsequent tracks which received the most appreciation from fans.
Shankar took the time to demonstrate the hook step for Locha-E-Ulfat and Woh Ladki Hai Kahan so that everyone in the audience could dance as he sang. For Woh Ladki Hai Kahan not only did he have the audience performing the hook step, he had Ghatate and all of his bandmates did it as well.
The title track from Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, It’s the Time to Disco from Kal Ho Naa Ho, and Shankar’s famously known Breathless left no one still in their seat.
Shankar called Farhan back on stage. Together they sang the title track of Rock On!!. They then welcomed Darshan Mehta, national promoter from Shri Balaji Entertainment, to the stage to thank him for making the show possible. Shankar then asked everyone standing in front of the stage if they wanted the final song to be the title song from Dil Chahta Hai or Gallan Goodiyaan from Dil Dhadakne Do. Gallan Goodiyaan got the most screams so that was the grand finale number. It was a dynamic and momentous finale performance by Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy, Farhan, Donald, and Ghatate, an epic note to end the show.
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