Despite heavy rains, students groove non-stop at Arjun Kanungo’s high-energy concert

For Arjun Kanungo, being on stage and performing live after the pandemic, is not new. “I’ve been performing live at concerts since Feb this year and have done over 40 shows till date already,” he tells us. And yet, the concert at JVPD grounds Juhu, of Umang 2022 that began on September 15 is definitely one of his favourites!
With the heavy Mumbai monsoons and sorry traffic situation in the city, the concert that was supposed to begin at 6.30 pm actually began around two hours later, but nothing could dampen the spirits of the massive crowd of college students who hung around at the ground set up for the 23rd edition of Asia's Fastest Growing Youth Festival - Umang.
The loudest of cheers and applause greeted Arjun as he came on stage saying, “Let me hear it for Umang!”. The energy of the crowd was palpable as the singer began his performance. With rains pouring down consistently in sheets of white, the well-lit arena, packed with crowds soaked to skin already, reverberated as they sang along with Arjun.
In the midst of it, he threw off his cap among the audience and was greeted with shouts of glee! “Baarish mein bheeg rahe ho aap sab? Chalo main bhi bheeg leta hoon,” he announced and there was a deafening chorus of ‘yay’. Arjun climbed off the stage and went amidst the crowd of collegians as he sang.

While he began the show with his own songs Aaya Na Tu, Waada Hai, Ilzaam, Woh Baarishein, Barsaat he also sang some popular all-time favorites like Zara Zara Behekta Hai, Ranjha, Tujhe Kitna Chahne Lage Hum, The Humma Song, Ghungroo Song, Agar Tum Saath Ho, Maula Mere Maula, Tamma Tamma, Dum Maro Dum, Saturday Saturday, Afghan Jalebi, Pyar Ki Pungi, Taare Gin Gin, Bhaag DK Bose and others.
Recent hits like Ali Sethi-Shae Gill’s ‘Pasoori’, The Kid Laroi-Justin Bieber’s ‘Stay’, The Weeknd’s ‘Blinding Lights’, Diljit Dosanjh’s ‘Lover’ had the entire crowd in a frenzy as they sang along and danced. He held on to the attention of the young audience as he belted out songs one after the other including his popular track ‘Nikke Nikke Shots’, with no breaks in between. For the last number just before the 10 pm deadline, he pulled his newly wed wife, Carla Dennis into an impromptu dance on stage as the audience clapped and wowed.

“It’s always great to perform in Mumbai and this year I’ve already performed in this city five times and will be performing three more times this year. It is awesome that we are coming to a place post covid where Bombay is really opening up. Here we have three months of rain and monsoon so there have been no outdoor concerts happening as such. Even when I took my tour it was all indoors and now my outdoor tours begin with Umang. It is really exciting to do outdoor concerts once more!,” said Arjun speaking exclusively to Bombay Times.