If you have ever been on a Kolkata Metro during peak office hours, then the crowd that came to see Farhan Akhtar perform at Hard Rock Cafe, Kolkata, would cause deja vu. As the band members got ready to enthral the city’s audiences on Saturday, May 6, chants calling for the Bollywood star took over the lounge-cafe. Farhan responded in kind, saying, “It's really a pleasure to be in your city and be welcomed with such warmth and love. Thank you, Kolkata!”
Most of the songs performed were from his latest album, Echoes, which was recorded in Italy. The musician-actor started out with the crowd-pleasing number, Pain or Pleasure. The audience was reeled in with the first few tracks Farhan performed, which included My Friend Who Was and Bird on a Wire.
Farhan had the audience grooving to his tunes from the very start
‘Rock On’ to the beat
Rock music lover Abhijata Sen, who came with his mother, said, “I love Farhan's music and the words that he uses really touch a chord. Plus, he has a habit of excelling in everything he does, which makes me adore his work more.”
Deboshmita Paul was looking forward to experiencing the full range of Farhan’s music. “I love the coarseness of his voice, and although it's a promotional tour, I am expecting the show to be a good mix of English songs and Bollywood numbers,” she said before the gig.
L-R: Abhijata Sen with his mother Sujata Sen, and Deboshmita Paul
While the crowd showed their love for the musician’s original numbers, requests for his Bollywood hits poured in as well. The singer responded by saying that good things come to people who wait. “You want the trophy, gotta go through the whole tournament.”
As the evening drew on, one might have thought the energy in the room couldn’t get higher, but they were wrong. Towards the end of the night, Farhan began singing the title track from Rock On!, and people found new energy, letting loose and singing the song with him. The vibe was almost surreal — as if the 2008 cult hit had just released!
