The Delhi concert was my fifth ARR concert and was easily the best I have seen considering most aspects - promotion, production values, performances, acoustics (barring some very minor infractions) stage design, crowd response. It was a thundering success by all accounts. Like someone said ARR invaded Himesh Reshamiyya territory and emerged a Shahenshah. Kudos to the Delhi crowd for a packed venue in the range of 35-40000 people.
The highlight of the show was of course the sneak preview of Azeem O Shaan Shahenshah from Jodhaa Akbar. The act turned out to be as fantastic as the song. The song began with the blowing of Indian-style horns and trumpets . Then Sivamani moved centre stage beating his drum. Lined up on both sides of the stage on the ground were 40 drummers clad in royal-white and turbans. Slowly, they ascended the stage, 20 on each side, beating the drums. Sivamani moved to the front of the stage and received the drummers in line and formed an arc on the stage with ARR in centre singing the song and joined in by the chorus chanting 'Marhaba'. The performance gave me gooseflesh. While the ARR's regular singer line-up including Hariharan, Chitra, Sadhana Sargam, Madhushree, Kailash, Chinmayee and Naresh were as good as ever, particular mention needs to made of the young brigade of female singers comprising Neeti Mohan, Tanvi and Soumya Rao. Neeti and Tanvi carried off Chandralekha brilliantly on stage. The following is the list of songs - 1. Jaage Hain Der Tak - Chitra, ARR 2. Khalbali - ARR 3. Mangal Mangal - Kailash Kher 4. Roja Jaaneman - Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam 5. Vaaji Vaaji (Hindi and Tamil) - Hariharan, Madhushree 6. Paathshalaa - Blaaze, Naresh Iyer, Mohd. Aslam 7. Kehna Hi Kya - Chitra, ARR 8. Yunhi Chala Chal - Kailash Kher, Hariharan 9. Chanda Re - Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam 10. Roobaroo - Naresh Iyer, ARR 11. Kabhi Neem Neem - Madhushree, ARR 12. Barso Re - Neeti Mohan 13. Dil Se Re - ARR 14. Athiradi - ARR, Sayonara, Dr. Narayan, Naresh Iyer, Mohd. Aslam, Chinmayee, Tanvi 15. Chaiyya Chaiyya - Rayhana, Kailash Kher, Naresh Iyer, Mohd. Aslam, Aslam Khan 16. Azeem O Shaan Shahenshah - ARR, Naresh Iyer, Vivek Agrawal, drum ensemble 17. Veerapandi Kottayile (Bit) - ARR, Naresh Iyer, Vivek Agrawal, drum ensemble 18. Pray For Me Brother - ARR, Blaaze 19. Unplugged - Shauk Hai - Soumya Rao 20. Unplugged - Tu Hu Re - Hariharan, Chitra (Hindi and Tamil) 21. Unplugged - Naina Neer Bahaye - Sadhana Sargam 22. E Hairate Aashiqui - Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam 23. Saiyyan Chhodo Na Mere Baiyan - Parul Mishra (Fever 104 FM Voice Hunt winner) 24. Maiyya Maiyya - Neeti Mohan 25. Ni Main Samajh Gayi - Neeti Mohan, Kailash Kher 26. Chupke Se - Sadhana Sargam, Ghulam Murtuza Khan, Ghulam Quadir Khan 27. Tere Bina - ARR, Chinmayee, Ghulam Murtuza Khan, Ghulam Quadir Khan 28. Chandralekha - Tanvi, Neeti Mohan (Hindi and Tamil) 29. Ghanan Ghanan - Hariharan, Chitra, Sadhana Sargam, Aslam Khan 30. Ik Omkar - Chitra 31. Rang De Basanti - Chitra, Aslam Khan 32. Humma Humma - ARR, Blaaze 33. Vande Mataram - ARR, all artistes Other harmony singers - Israth Songs scheduled but skipped during performance- 1. Mitwa - Kailash, Naresh Iyer 2. Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera - ARR 3. Khamoshiyan Gungunane - Chitra 4. Chale Chalo - ARR, Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam, Aslam Khan, Naresh Iyer, Chitra 5. Saregame - ARR, Naresh, Blaaze, Tanvi, Sayonara, Mohd. Aslam, Dr. Narayan
