Legendary Bollywood playback singer Sonu Nigam wowed the audience at his sold out concert this Sunday, at Leicester’s De Montfort Hall, after performing in the city after almost ten years.
Classically trained by Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, Nigam shot to fame as the host of Zee TV’s music reality show Sa Re Ga Ma and is one of the most highly credited singers in the Indian music industry. Having staged concerts in every continent of the world, he has been entertaining his global audiences by being able to sing in a variety of languages.
Nigam returned to the city to perform for one night only, as part of a series of Indian singers performing, to mark 100 years of Bollywood cinema. The concert attracted audiences of all ages and from all over the UK to hear the music maestro perform live.
The show, presented by TLC presentation and Rock on Music international, opened with an infusion of sounds from the tablas, drums, keyboards and electric guitars, followed by the supporting act Jonita Gandhi, who entertained the audience with her soulful rendition of classic Bollywood hits; ‘Mein pareshan’, ‘Pani Da Rang’, ‘Piya Tu Ab To Aaja’ and ‘Sheila Ki Jawani’.
As the lights went out and the drum beats began, Nigam began the musical journey full of energy, wearing a black suit and white shirt as he opened the show with a flawless performance of his hit song ‘Shukran Allah’, which set his fans cheering with delight.
His nonstop three hour performance of over twenty five songs, included Bollywood hits ‘Saathiya’, to the romantic ‘Chori Kiya Re Jiya’, and magical sounds of ‘Main Agar Kahoon’, the patriotic ‘Sandese Aate Hain’ and to the emotional of ‘Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin’. He followed with more upbeat songs such as ‘All Iz Well’ and songs from his own albums including ‘Bijuriya’, which got the audiences dancing in their seats, as he moon-walked across the stage and danced his signature moves.
Nigam, who first sang live as a three year old, was later joined on stage by his six year old son Neevan, who was greeted with a rapturous applause from the audience. He sweetly sang lines from his father’s hit song ‘Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin’ and lines from ‘Kolaveri Di’, proving that the passion of music and singing had followed on to the next generation.
The singing superstar, who has been ruling the music world with his melodies for the last twenty years, ended the evening full of passion and love, with an outstanding, uplifting performance of ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’. The singer, so versatile with his voice, promised to return to the city again as he was applauded with a standing ovation.
