Bhubaneswar: Day 3 of the inaugural edition of FEST (Bhubaneshwar City Festival) successfully ended with an eventful turnout who witnessed a one-of-a-kind performance by Odisha born Bollywood singer and performer Sona Mohapatra.
The talented singer and musician gave the audiences a power packed performance. With her eclectic style and penchant fuse of folk with contemporary, Sona’s performance at the festival was loved by all as she enthralled the audience with her trademark ‘Lal Pari Mastani – Live in Concert’.
The highlight of the evening was her own version of the classic Odia folk song, ‘Rasorkeli bo’ which she sang for Bhubaneswar the very first time, as a teaser prior to releasing it internationally. She also sang popular hindi songs as well as several spiffy pop that enchanted the audience through and through.
Opening her concert with ‘Tum Bin Mora Jiya Laage Na’ from the movie Talaash, Sona reminded the audience why she continues to reign in the Indian subcontinent. Her ethereal tone had the audience appreciatively spellbound, the very first note of the song evoking loud cheers and whistles.
The crowd actively sang and danced along with Sona’s unbridled voice and eclectic style. Supercharged as she prefers to be during live performances, Sona’s presence in the fest gave it the perfect up thrust by a home player.
Her slot was perfectly woven with industry sellouts like ‘Afreen Afreen’, ‘Piya Re Piya Re’ glittered with Odia glees, ‘Rangabati’ and ‘Mora Nilamani Tuhi’. ‘Chand Mera Dil’ and ‘Lalpari Mastani’ renditions, backed by her impeccable band, delivered a concert that was certainly worth every penny.
The FEST is being held at the Exhibition Ground in Unit-3 of Bhubaneswar. It will conclude December 16. Several Bollywood singers are slated to be part of the mega festival stretching more than a fortnight.
Adding more fun to the frolic, the FEST is geared up to showcase phenomenal folk performances representing four different states of India, performed by their best forwards. Audiences can relish the joyous ‘Bihu’ dance from Assam; come alive in the energising beats of ‘Bhangra’ from Punjab; get their adrenaline rushing from the thrilling ‘fire dance recital’ through Manipur’s Thang Ta martial crew, and then be tranquilised by the traditional folk performance, as serene as the paradise on earth, Jammu & Kashmir.
Close to 80 dancers across the four states will be traveling to the city to perform on stage for the festival in the Capital city.
PNN