They sure did pull a crowd!

Talented trio

When Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa (popularly known as the musical trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy) took the stage recently at Palace Grounds, they left the Bangaloreans asking for more.

They performed many of their chartbusters from movies like ‘Rock On’, Dil Chahta Hai and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.

The evening began on a devotional note as Shankar sang Vakrathunda Maha Kaya.
This was followed by the title track of ‘Rock On’. The three then performed the title song of the cult movie Dil Chahta Hai.

The song Jhoom Barabar Jhoom was apt for the crowd as they danced and enjoyed the energetic performance of the trio. Then came the soulful number Sajda from ‘My Name Is Khan’ and the peppy ‘Pretty Woman’ from Kal Ho Na Ho.

Shankar revealed that there have been times when a good song has happened by chance.
“It would have been a fluke but goes on to become a hit as it has sincerity and soul in it. Kal Ho Na Ho was one such song where Loy took five minutes to play the intro and lyricist Javed Akhtar appreciated the sincerity of the song,” he said.

Then Shankar informed Bangaloreans about his efforts to bring Indian classical music to mainstream Bollywood.

He said he feels like swimming against the tide. “You have producers asking you for items songs and mass songs. So songs with a classical flavour lose out,” said Shankar. Shankar invited Giridhar Udupa, a ghatam player, on stage and collaborated with him for the song Sapno Se Bhare Naina which Shankar claimed is a song that was well received by the audience. Prior to the 15 minutes interval, the trio performed Mast Kalandar from ‘Heyy Baby’, Aaj Ki Raat from Don and Rock n’ Roll Soniye from Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. After the break, the tempo was changed from foot-tapping music to some soulful melodies.

They called the medley as ‘Unplugged Section’ in which they performed songs such as Aao Na from Kyun Ho Gaya Na, Jaane Kyun Log and Tanhayee from Dil Chahta Hai, the title track of Salaam-e-Ishq, Bol Na Halke Halke from Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Tu Dhoop Hai from Taare Zameen Par, Mitwa from Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and the all-time hit ‘Breathless’.

Listening to ‘Breathless’, the crowd was in a frenzy and gave Shankar a standing ovation.
Towards the end, they performed the soulful adulation to mothers, Maa from Taare Zameen Par. Shankar then asked the audience to choose between ‘Paint It Red’ and Kajra Re and the crowd wanted the latter. Shankar also paid an ode to the Kannada audience by singing Yello Jogappa from the Kannada movie Jogi and then sang Kajra Re. Shankar then sang Senorita from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and had the crowd clapping along. Shankar finished the concert by singing Hindustani, which was a way to congratulate the Indian cricket team for their victory against Pakistan.