Rain fails to dampen spirits, as music soars to new heights at HT Friday Jam in Gurgaon

Taking the stage after a couple of hours of rain delay, popular singer Shibani Kashyap and Rangreza, an NCR-based corporate band which won the event last year, dished out a musical treat that left the audience craving for more.

Although the heavens opened up on two occasions just when it seemed the show was set to begin, the rains couldn’t dampen the spirits of music lovers and weekend revellers who turned up for KR Mangalam University presents Hindustan Times-DLF CyberHub Friday Jam Season 4.

People enjoy the performance of NCR-based corporate band, Rangreza, which played Sufi numbers and Bollywood chartbusters. (Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

Thankfully, however, the rains soon eased up and the menacing grey clouds couldn’t spoil a melodious evening laced with flavours of Sufi, Rock and contemporary Bollywood music. For those, who braved the showers, it was time to party as the performers set the tone for what was to be an evening full of unbridled fun.

Taking the stage after a couple of hours of rain delay, popular singer Shibani Kashyap and Rangreza, an NCR-based corporate band which won the event last year, dished out a musical treat that left the audience craving for more.

It was, perhaps, fitting that Kashyap labelled the crowd as the ‘best in the universe’, as their spirits prevailed over the rain.

The music had everyone on their feet from the moment the show began till the last notes were played. (Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

Rangreza, which kicked off the show, got the audience grooving as they performed Kailash Kher’s soulful Sufi number ‘Teri Deewani’ and ‘Dhan Te Nan’ from Bollywood blockbuster ‘Kaminey’.

The band then took the weekend crowd to the melodious nineties by presenting a bouquet of retro hits, including AR Rahman’s ‘Humma Humma’ from Mani Ratnam classic ‘Bombay’ and ended their performance with ‘Oh Oh Jaane Jaana’, arguably the most popular dance number featuring Salman Khan.

“We loved performing to this weekend crowd again. I am sure they had fun listening to us as well,” Shreyash Tiwari, the lead vocalist of Rangreza, said.

It was then time for Kashyap to take the audience by storm.

; Renowned singer Shibani Kashyap finds time to pose for a selfie with her fans at CyberHub, during her performance on the Friday Jam Season 4 stage. (Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

For those who waited through the rain-enforced delay, it was worth the wait. “Every Friday, you have such great music here,” the singer said as she opened her act with her popular playback number ‘Sajna’ from the film ‘Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II.’

She followed it up with chartbusters such as ‘O re piya’, ‘Samjhawan’, ‘Jugni’, ‘Bulleya’, and ‘Sayonee’. She even turned the clock back by presenting her breakthrough Pop number ‘Ho Gayi Hain Mohabbat’.

She then took the weekend crowd on a retro ride with evergreen hits such as ‘Dum Maro Dum’, ‘Monica’ and ‘Laila o Laila.’ The revellers were promptly on their feet and grooved to the cult hits.

She closed her performance with ‘Kabira’ from the hit Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif-starrer ‘Yeh Jaawani Hain Deewani’.

“For a brief moment, I felt I might not be able to perform to this lovely audience because of the rain. But luckily, the weather cleared. The crowd made me feel like the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Everyone was tuned in,” Shibani told Hindustan Times after her performance.

Next week promises an even more sumptuous treat for the weekend crowd, as Bollywood superstar will grace the event as the chief guest.

VOX POP

“It is always good to be treated to live music. I love Friday Jam as it is an opportunity for music lovers to experience live performances every week,” Isha Dureja (25), a resident of Sector 7, said.

“I am a big fan of bands performing live and love listening to little known musical groups at Friday Jam. This event is a stepping stone for them to achieve future success,” Sonia Agrawal (42),a resident of Sector 46, said.

“I work at CyberHub and each Friday I am inevitably drawn to this event because of the sheer quality of music on offer,” Ashish Periwal (27), a resident of DLF Phase 2, said.

“My family is big on music and we have numerous instruments at home. And who doesn’t love live music? Call it a perfect Friday evening,” Tresa CJ (31), a resident of Sector 50, said.

“This is my fourth visit to Friday Jam. We braved the rain, but it was definitely worth the wait. This event should be made a permanent weekly feature,” Alina Mehta (15), a resident of Palam Vihar, said.