The show, dedicated as a tribute to legendary playback singer Mohammed Rafi, also featured local talents
Against the serene backdrop of Dal Lake, on Sunday evening, popular singer Sonu Nigam enthralled hundreds of music lovers at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), sounding a soothing note in a Valley troubled since the Pahalgam attack.
The open-air concert hosted by NDTV Good Times unfolded in a setting few could have imagined a decade ago — a peaceful Srinagar filled with music, applause, and no signs of the strikes or boycott calls that once overshadowed such events in the Valley.
The show, dedicated as a tribute to legendary playback singer Mohammed Rafi, also featured local talents Qazi Touqeer, winner of the 2005 Fame Gurukul and Rouhan Malik, who warmed up the stage before Nigam’s electrifying performance. Nigam’s mellifluous voice and popular melodies created a euphoric atmosphere, leaving the audience swaying and singing along.
“It has been a great experience to see my favourite singer performing live in our city. I’m thrilled to see him here,” said Mohammad Amir, a 27-year-old fan from Srinagar.
Tuning out discord
In the days leading up to the concert, a social media campaign circulated online urging people to boycott the event. Some users cited Nigam’s 2017 remarks calling for a ban on loudspeakers at religious places, including mosques, which had sparked controversy at the time. Despite the online debate, the concert proceeded as scheduled with a significant turnout at the venue.
The concert was the first of its kind in Kashmir since 2013, when renowned conductor Zubin Mehta performed in the Mughal-era Shalimar Garden. That event, organised by the German Embassy, had triggered sharp opposition from separatist leaders. Hardline separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani had then called for a Valley-wide shutdown, calling the concert an attempt to “legitimise Delhi’s rule in Kashmir.” On the same day, four people were killed in Shopian, about 55 km away, when security forces opened fire on them near a CRPF camp.
In contrast, Nigam’s concert unfolded in an atmosphere of calm and was the first such event after the Pahalgam attack, which left 26 people dead.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said the concert would help promote tourism in J&K, noting that such events highlight the region’s cultural vibrancy and hospitality.
Published on October 26, 2025