Saturday, May 20, 2017
Indian musicians Daler Mehndi, Mika Singh and their crew transported UAE fans to Punjab on Friday night with a colourful show. The nostalgia began when the turbans, edgy Punjabi (read Mika-inspired) haircuts, ladies in their brightest outfits with children and adults of all ages queued up to enter the Dubai World Trade Centre to experience Bhangra music. In addition to Mehndi and Singh, who were sharing the stage for the first time in the UAE, Navraj Hans performed a few catchy numbers to set the tune of the evening, mixing in a few songs by his father, Hans Raj Hans — the fantastic voice behind many popular Punjabi songs such Tote Tote Ho Gya —and a few lyrics of his own.
Then entered the ‘King of Punjab’ Mehndi in style, to perform his extravagant track from the latest Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, Saahore Baahubali. The crowds cheered and hooted, and didn’t stop for the next hour of his performance. The traditional dhol (drum) on stage made everybody’s feet tap, including a 75-year-old man giving serious age goals to all the people around him including Singh himself. Singh, the bad boy of Bollywood, entered the stage on his recent track from the movie Sultan: Lage 440 volt chune se tere. He followed it with his very popular songs and remixes of some old numbers, making the crowd dance, sway or just jump on the spot but never rest.
The ending to the concert couldn’t have been any better, with Mehndi, Singh and Hans performing together on stage. Singh took the drums while Mehndi and Hans chorused some of Daler’s popular soundtracks such as Tunak Tunak Tun and Har Taraf Tera Jalwa. Everyone had a smile on their faces and songs on their lips as the hall emptied for the night.
By Pankaj Sharma, Senior Photographer
Gulf News 2017. All rights reserved.
