Kings in Concert: Shankar Mahadevan, Hariharan perform live in Mumbai

Kings in Concert, the extremely popular singing franchise comprising Shankar Mahadevan and Hariharan, who have performed at numerous such shows abroad, performed live at a concert in Mumbai organized by Nagrik Shikshan Sanstha (NSS). The singing maestros were accompanied by over forty musicians and also singer Mahalaxmi Iyer at the concert held on 5th Jan at Shanmukhananda Hall, organised for raising Scholarship funds to talented underprivileged student artists of NSS Sports & Cultural Academy.

The singing maestros were watched with awe and admiration by the 2,000 odd crowd in the magnificent Shanmukhanada Hall. Among the audience was another maestro Zakir Hussain along with his wife Antonia and his musician partner John McLaughlin who were similarly spell bound by the performance. There was a scintillating jugalbandi performance at the end by the duo which left the audience stunned by the repertoire of the two singers, who deservedly received a standing ovation.

After the performance Zakir Hussain, John Mc Laughlin, Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan and Mahalakshmi Iyer interacted with each other for a long time and obliged the numerous fans who had rushed on to the stage. The Kings in Concert was organised for raising Scholarship funds to talented underprivileged student artists of NSS Sports & Cultural Academy.

Shankar Mahadevan and Hariharan have brilliant on stage chemistry, healthy mutual respect for each other"s talents, good tuning amongst themselves and both are thorough professionals with strong classical roots. Some of the popular chart busters which Shankar Mahadevan sang include Dil Chahta Hai, Songs from film Rock On, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Mitwa (Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna), Senorita (ZNMD) and also a few Marathi songs including Vishwavinayak & Mana Udhaan Varyache.

A few of Hariharan's hits, which were part of the concert, are Tu Hi Re; Tu hi Re, Main hi Samane, Bharat Hamko Jaan se Pyaara Hai and the Marathi song Khel Mandal (Jogva). Apart from Marathi, a few Tamil hit songs were also belted out by the musical duo.