The Sunday turnout at the ongoing trade fair at Sonaram field. Picture by Eastern Projections

March 6: ?Guwahati, bhal ne (How are you, Guwahati)?? asked the young man on stage to hundreds of cheering fans and the city lost its heart to Rahul Vaidya, the second runner-up in the popular television show, Indian Idol. But that was only the beginning.

Rahul and Prajakta Shukray, another finalist of the televised talent hunt, crooned one Bollywood hit after another at the Sonaram field on the penultimate day of the 12th Guwahati International Trade Fair. The large Sunday crowd that had gathered on the fair ground went dizzy as the talented duo serenaded the audience.

If Rahul stole hearts at this evening?s show with a soulful rendition of the title track from the Bollywood chartbuster Kal Ho Na Ho, Prajakta?s Nimboora Nimboora, the Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam number, too became an instant hit with the audience.

This was the first stage performance by any finalist if the Indian Idol competition, the results of which were declared yesterday.

Given the huge popularity of the Indian Idol, Rahul and Prajakta have become household names across the country. Expectedly, there was a surge of people to see the young stars perform live. And they were not disappointed.

?It was an excellent show. Though they are very young, these budding artistes performed very well. You?d hardly guess it was their first live show, that, too, in an alien city,? a member of the audience, Sobhna Bharatia, said. ?What I like best was that both appeared equally comfortable singing hits songs of yesteryears as well as the latest chart-toppers.?

The young performers, too, were visibly moved by the outpouring of love and adulation. ?Rahul and Prajakta?s eyes shown with excitement when they touched down here this afternoon for their maiden public appearance,? Rajesh Das, vice-president of the Industries and Trade Fair Association, Assam (ITFAA) said. The association is organising the trade fair.

The crowning moment of the performance came when even some foreign participants joined the two singers while they were singing the Indian Idol theme song.

Business delegates from nine foreign countries ? China, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Bangladesh, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Nepal and Bhutan ? took part in the fair, which began on February 20.