Papon’s Shaam-E-Mehfil concert in Lucknow last Saturday turned into exactly the kind of musical evening the city lives for, intimate, rain-washed and overflowing with emotion. Braving heavy showers, a packed audience turned up and stayed glued to their seats for over two-and-a-half hours as the singer moved effortlessly between ghazals and Bollywood favourites.Calling Lucknow his “second home”, Papon opened his heart to the city from the stage. “I have a deep connection with Lucknow kyunki main toh iss sheher ka damaad bhi hoon, meri mausi aur Taiji bhi hain yahan aapke beech. I have a very dear friend Abdullah also here in the city,” he said, adding, “I remember there was a time when I used to sit with my guitar and sing and no one wanted to listen to my songs and now all of you are here showering me with so much love.”The love clearly flowed both ways. On Instagram later, the Kaun Mera singer summed up the mood of the night, writing, “Every lyric you sang, every applause, every smile made Shaam-e-Mehfil truly unforgettable. Thank you, Lucknow for filling the evening with so much love! Lucknow Ka Shaam-E-Mehfil will stay with us for long! Thank you so much for a house full of hearts!”
Papon
In the hall, that “house full of hearts” translated into a rare kind of stillness. “I have never seen a singer perform so effortlessly and so beautifully,” said Anamika Sharma, who was in the audience. “His interaction with us and his songs left us asking for more.”The setlist was a carefully stitched blend of Papon’s own ghazals and a bouquet of much-loved tracks. Through the evening, he slipped into numbers like Kaun Kehta Hai, Tum Itna Jo, Benaam Khwahishein, Ranjish Hi Sahi, Zamana Lage, Tumko Dekha Toh, Aapki Aakhon Mein and Kyon Na Hum Tum, along with his popular hits Moh Moh Ke Dhaage, Bulleya and Jiye Kyon. Each song drew applause, sing-alongs and often, quiet, teary-eyed nods from listeners seated across the hall.
