Hariharan: The legend who mesmerised the Melbourne crowd

Melbourne, April 9 (India News Newsdesk): If anyone can truly be called the ‘voice of the soul’, you should have listened to the man singing in Melbourne recently, if you didn’t do it. He is, of course, no stranger to the world of Indian music, which is now being widely recognised for its variety and melody. And add soul to it, the moment you say that, all you remember is one man who is revered widely in India and abroad as Hariharan. Truly, the maestro’s singing has celestial touch to it. He has an uncanny knack to touch the heart and soul with his mellifluous voice. Hariharan, 68, has sung in many languages since 1978. His versatility as a singer has added to the magic he weaves around his listeners with his singing.

All these characteristics of this legendry singer were on display at the Palais Theatre, in St. Kilda, on April 8. The crowd, representing the diversity that the Indian community is known for, cheered and rejoiced while attending the event. The maestro’s singing overwhelmed those who were in attendance. Once on the stage, Hariharan sang to the joy of the crowd, giving his voice to a variety of popular songs in Tamil and Hindi. Hariharan is known to have sung about 8,000 songs so far. Much to the cheer of the audience, he kicked off the Melbourne concert with the song ‘Roja Jaaneman’ from the movie Bombay.

As a singer, who is a legend now, Hariharan was initiated into the world of Tamil movies in 1992 by the then debutant music director A R Rahaman, and he shot to fame with the patriotic song “Thamizha Thamizha” in Maniratnam’s Roja.

The best part about Hariharan’s singing, which was seen once again in the Melbourne event, was that everyone enjoyed all his songs, whether one was a nonHindi speaker or one who knew Hindi only. He sang Tamil songs as well, which equally enthralled the audience. Language does not become a barrier when Hariharan sings.

Another part of Hariharan’s singing has been the interactive nature of it. He does not just sing, he makes his listeners sing as well. This was seen during his concert at the Palais Theatre, on April 8. He mesmerized his fans, unleashing many of his award-winning songs, one after another. The high-voltage concert saw the audience dance at times as Hariharan left them spell bound singing from a colourful stage, and accompanied by an outstanding team of musicians. The audience included Consul General, Melbourne, Dr Sushil Kumar and his family, community leaders and influencers.

The concert left an indelible musical experience on the minds of those who attended it, and a message was also loud and clear that music is the power that transcends any linguistic boundaries and speaks a common language of peace, harmony and vibrancy, and at the same time entertaining those who connect with it. Hariharan’s concert in Melbourne, by the Star Promotions and India News from Brisbane, showcased once again the richness of Indian music. Moreover, the concert has highlighted the multicultural ethos of India and Australia.