Arijit Singh
Visited on: February 18
Where: Aquatica
Why: He performed at a concert as part of his One Night Only tour. He sung his own hits like Kesariya, Agar tum saath ho and Mon majhi re as also a lot of vintage Bengali songs. Major traffic restrictions were imposed on the fringes of Action Area I since afternoon for the evening concert which drew a capacity crowd that was also treated to a surprise short participation from local rockstar Rupam Islam who was in the audience.
Emiliano Martinez
Visited on: July 5
Where: Sreebhumi
Why: The World Cup and Golden Glove-winning goalkeeper, who is known by his nickname Dibu, paid tribute at foot of the Maradona statue on his way in from VIP Road and was then felicitated on stage on the club grounds.
Vidya Balan
Visited on: October 14 and
November 3
Where: Sreebhumi Sporting Club Durga and HB Block in Salt Lake
Why: The acclaimed actress had come to inaugurate two Durga pujas on Mahalaya. Director Goutam Halder, who had launched Balan in her first feature film Bhalo Theko, had arranged the visits.
Ironically, she had to return less than three weeks later on learning of Haldar’s death.
Ronaldinho
Visited on: October 16
Where: Sreebhumi and Rajarhat
Why: The 2004-05 FIFA World Player of the Year who won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and the Champions League with Barcelona in 2006, visited R10 Academy, an initiative of Ronaldinho in collaboration with the Merlin Group, where he interacted with kids at Merlin Rise in Rajarhat. He also visited the Sreebhumi Sporting Club’s Durga Puja.
Ricky Ponting and Rishabh Pant
Visited on: November 8, 9 and 10
Why: The former Australian captain and current head coach of Delhi Capitals conducted a three-day practice camp at the Salt Lake campus of Jadavpur University, also attended by team director Sourav Ganguly. The camp came in the news due to the visit of the IPL team’s captain Rishabh Pant who is recuperating from injuries sustained in an accident that has rendered him hors de combat for the entire year.
Vinod Rathod
Where: AC Block
Visited on: November 13
Why: His show was the highlight of the cultural programmes by Salt Lake AC Block Yubak Sangha. Vinod vroomed into the field on a bike that had fireworks going off and sang songs like Dholi taro dhol baje, Chhupana bhi nahi aata and Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.
Alka Yagnik
Where: Karunamoyee
Visited on: November 22
Why: Alka Yagnik was the headlining act of the cultural programmes by Karunamayee (ED Block) Abashikbrindo Jagadhatri Puja Committee. She sang numbers like Ek do teen, Gazab ka hai din and Baazigar oh Baazigar.
Louis Saha
Where: AIFF Centre of Excellence, behind Eco Park
Visited on: November 21
Why: Manchester United’s French star launched the fourth edition of United We Play, a grassroots football initiative supported by the English Premier League club.
Dipa Karmakar
Visited on: December 4
Where: Techno India Main
Why: The Olympian gymnast from Tripura came to attend the closing ceremony of the third edition of Techno Olympica Knights, an inter-school sports event.
