It’s rockin! On Saturday, Bollywood sensation Sonu Niigaam gave a truly rocking start to the nine-day-long Times Ahmedabad Festival to celebrate the city’s festive spirit. The festival kicked off at the Karnvati Club with thunderous applause by a huge crowd who thronged the venue to once again assert — aapnu Amdavad rocks. Niigaam, dressed in a brown jacket and white t-shirt, pepped up the mood by a “kem chho” directed at the crowds, only to be greeted back with resounding cheer and defeaning shouts. In an instant, he was the darling of the milling fans.

He then belted out his hit Bollywood and pop chart scorchers, beginning with phalak dekhu, jameen dekhu and set the mood for Amdavadis for an electrifying night of entertainment.

Hit songs like Chak de saare gham, ab mjhe raat din tera hi khyaal hai , Suraj hua madhyam among his others chart buster songs made the people stand up and enjoy the every single moment of the festival. The young and old joined Niigaam as he sang Mera rang de basanti chola for the hip and happening crowd.

Niigaam also kept the audience in splits with his witty comments and peppy talk. Sanjay Shah, a hotelier from the US, and is wife Sejal, who were who are on a vacation were found immersed in the festive mood at the venue, dancing with their two young children.

“We are completely chilled out here. Times Ahmedabad festival has made our vacation a much more enjoyable one. Sonu Niigaam’s scintillating performance has forced us to shake a leg. There will be lot of memories to carry back,” said the Shahs.

Niigaam, who literally made the crowd dance to his tunes, quipped to the gathered Amdavadis, “I will make you dance.” And, that’s what he did all through the evening. His recent song from Om Shanti Om made the crowd crying ‘once more’ and he obliged them over and over again. Mahi Patel, 25 upbeat about the festival said, “Niigaam is my hot favourite. I have always admired him. Today, watching him perform live and listening to his hit songs was an out-of-thisworld experience,” said Mahi Patel, 25.

Among the crowd, young girls jostled for space to have a glimpse of their favourite singing icon. Shweta Sharma, present at the event, said, “We are enjoying every bit of his power-packed performance. We are enjoying the festival to the hilt.” Niigaam talked one-to-one with the young audience and responded to their demands.

Sonu sizzled. His voice created magic. The atmosphere was hot. The temperature rose. Whoever said winter’s here, go sing a song.