The instrumentalists: Nikhil Pendharkar and Saket Joshi on the keyboards, Manish Kurup on the lead guitar, Angshuman Parashar on the bass guitar, Shridhar Ganapuram on drums and dholak, Akshay Navaladi on tabla, and Vasanth Murthy on cabasa and tambourine for some songs.

The vocalists: Shraddha Agrawal, Suzana Naik, Smita Jani, Parag Joshi, Ujjwal Parikh, Vasanth Murthy, and Abhijit Bhadra.

Bollywood Dance choreographed by Sweta Patel and Ishita Tyagi, Semi Classical Fusion Dance choreographed by Udaya Rani and Deepa Arun and Fusion Dance choreographed by Mitali Biswas.

Stage decorations by Shobha Shastry of Alankar Event Planners and Decorators.

The end result: a feast for the eyes and ears - a beautiful, rocking, blockbuster music, song and dance event!!

Following an introduction to Ekal Vidyalaya by nine-year old Nisha Pillai whose confidence and costume caught the attention of the audience, the musical part of the evening began. The concert started off with a performance by the instrumentalists that set the tone for the whole evening. The instrumentalists and vocalists took the audience through a trip of Bollywood music from the 1960s to the present. The show featured songs like Kaaton Se Kheech Ke from Guide, Hoton Main Aisi Baat from Jewel Thief and Barso Re from Guru by Shraddha. Shraddha's sweet voice and musical finesse could effortlessly render songs by Lata Mangeshkar and Shreya Ghoshal. Main Shaayar To Nahin from Bobby and Maine Tere Liye from Anand by Ujjwal were so effectively sung that it was easy to see young Rishi Kapoor and Rajesh Khanna in one's mind acting out the scenes in the movies. Suzana's dulcet tones singing Kahin Deep Jale from Bees Saal Baad brought out goose bumps and one almost expected to see ghosts floating into the auditorium, while her rendition of Yeh Ishq Hai from Jab We Met and Nimbooda Nimbooda from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam brought out the fun-loving side of Suzana. Ajeeb Daastan Hai Ye from Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi was so melodiously sung by Smita that she had everyone swaying and tapping their feet just like the scene in the movie. And later, her performance of Raat Akeli Hain from Jewel Thief had the audience rocking! Saiyyaan from Nayak and Khuda Jaane from Bachna Ae Haseeno were the perfect songs to showcase Parag's fabulous vocal range. Naam Gum Jayega from Kinara by Vasanth and Shraddha mellifluously flowed over the audience. And then there were Aye Meri Zohra Jabeen from Waqt and Rang Barse from Silsila by Vasanth (with choral support from the others) that had the audience clapping, foot tapping and eager for more. It was quite obvious that Vasanth's voice makes him capable of belting out songs originally sung by various singers like Rafi, Bhupendra, Manna Dey and Udit Narayan. Manish's background vocal refrains in Nimbooda and Khuda Jaane were very effective. It was refreshing to hear the respects paid to artistes like Shailendra Singh and Bhupendra who have given their voices to songs like Main Shaayar To Nahin and Naam Gum Jayega. These are artistes who are usually not featured in concert venues.

The instrumentalists' attention to detail, especially in the interludes, was mind-blowing. The instrumentation was full and rounded. The chemistry between one another and with the vocalists was enjoyable to watch. Suzana and Vasanth, who also took on the compering for the show, were upbeat and completely at ease, engaging the audience with trivia and interesting facts. They were as professional in their compering as in their singing.

Duets like Teri Ore from Singh Is King, the romantic Raat Ka Humsafar from An Evening In Paris, Haasta Hua Noorani from Parasmani, Naam Gum Jayega from Kinara, and Tum Aa Gaye Ho from Aandhi brought on the nostalgia of hearing the beautiful lyrics found in Hindi songs, while the rendition of Rang Barse from Silsila and Koi Mil Gaya from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Aaja Aaja Main Hoon Pyar Tera from Teesri Manzil, Kajra Mohabbatwala from Kismat, Beedi Jalaile from Omkara, Aaj Kal Tere Mere from Brahmachari and Jai Jai Shiv Shankar from Aap Ki Kasam, had the audience clapping and dancing late into the night. The night ended with Abhijit's Dekha Na Haye Re from Bombay to Goa. This may have been the last performance by Abhijit with the Aaroh group before he leaves for India, but by no means was it a swan song. Abhijit will take music with him wherever he goes.

A word must be said about the attire worn by the band members. It was smart, professional and looked elegant on the stage that was so artfully and elegantly decorated by Shobha.

As the evening progressed it was quite obvious that Aaroh's instrumentalists and vocalists really have their finger on the audience's pulse. How else would it be possible to see three year olds, teenagers and adults hand waving, clapping, foot tapping and dancing together in the aisles and shouting out for encores of songs from the 1960s to the present? All in all, it was truly a Bollywood Blockbuster evening!