The Calcutta Swimming Club in association with t2 and Himadri, hosted Bismil Ki Mehfil last month, which saw Sufi singer Bismil bewitching a packed house with his soulful yet high-enery performance. The main entrance, leading through the brightly lit poolside and interiors, opened into the dimly lit open-air stage area, where audiences could witness the performance from either the raised platform with its spacious seating arrangement or from the ground below, which also housed a dance floor. The club decor and the stage backdrop were done up especially to go with the Sufi theme.
Twinning in black, present and former presidents, Siddharth Jhunjhunwala (left) and Manoj Bhagat, respectively, caught up over Bismil’s tunes. “The hype for this event was like no other. For the first time ever, we were sold out well in advance. Despite all our efforts to have as many of our members as possible, the limitations of limited space took over. The event was a class act in every aspect of the term. Bismil had a spell-binding effect on the audience and DJ Harish ensured the crowd was dancing till the wee hours of the morning. I congratulate our entertainment team and the staff of CSC who pulled off an absolute blinder,” said Siddharth Jhunjhunwala, president of The Calcutta Swimming Club.
Shifting from shayaris to songs and from melancholic, slower numbers to joyfully hightempo tracks, Bismil and his backing band rocked the night. Belting out song after song with unfaltering energy, they only left the audience hungry for more
Beginning his songs with heartfelt recitations of shayari, Bismil captivated a crowd of about 1,400 people, who in turn submitted themselves to an enthralling musical ride throughout the performance, while endlessly relishing delicious food, and sips of spirits. Accompanied by pyros pulsating to the music and LED displays projecting the concert, Bismil and his backing band tirelessly delivered popular numbers like Teri deewani, Dulhe ka sehra, Mast qalandar, Afreen, Mere rashke qamar, and more, ensuring an unforgettable experience for everyone present there.
The whole club was decked up with Moroccan lamps and Arabian decor to match the vibe of the soulful night
The crowd, in turn, was tireless throughout in their expressive response to Bismil’s performance, swaying to his musical temperaments. We caught entrepreneur Dipti Khaitan dancing non-stop right in front of the stage throughout the performance. “I really liked the vibe of the event and how CSC had done up the backdrop beautifully. Bismil’s voice was simply divine and it was an amazing night. I had had a very long day and I just let go of all the stress of the day when he started performing,” said Dipti.
Dressed for a carnivalesque night, Pragati Kheria (left) and Purvi Choudhary said, “What even can be said about Bismil? His voice is his introduction.”
