Adnan Sami to perform free concert in Srinagar

Pakistani-origin Bollywood singer Adnan Sami, who is half Kashmiri, is set to perform a musical gala on the banks of the Dal Lake here on Sunday

The 'Rhythm in Paradise' concert will take place at the sprawling lawns of the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) with a select audience of around 3,000 VVIPs.

The SKICC complex has been given a facelift to provide the right ambience. A deweeding and preservation operation in the Dal Lake has been speeded up so that the dazzling lights of the concert fall on clean glistening waters.

"He will perform without charging anything for the over two-hour long concert organised jointly by the union Home Ministry and the Jammu and Kashmir government," Mehmood Shah, Director of the state Tourism Department, told IANS on Saturday.

Doordarshan will stream the concert live. The government has deployed over 100 liaison officers to ensure that the concert takes place smoothly.

A security drill was held on Saturday around the venue to ensure foolproof security.

Sami interacted with some local artists at the Taj Vivanta Hotel here on Friday evening.

Discussing his music journey and sharing experiences with the local artists, Adnan said: "Language of art is a form of communication that transcends all differences created by humans as it reaches above hate to spread a message of peace and harmony."

On his experiences of visiting the state, Sami said the region hosted a rich culture which had art woven in its roots.

"The mysticism and Sufism found in Kashmir will continue to inspire me and influence my music so that I can produce rich melodies," he said.

Sami tweeted on Saturday: "I really enjoyed meeting the amazing local artists. It was delightful talking with them. Felt as if we knew each other from ages. The love."

Although he has visited the Kashmir Valley previously including for the shooting a Qawali sequence for Bollywood blockbuster Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Adnan said about his present visit: "I am in heaven on Earth. Kashmir, Srinagar, love, peace, brotherhood and music."

Many locals have expressed disappointment about the concert being a closed affair and not open to the general public.

"We looked forward to the concert and were ready to pay for the tickets, but we are now told it is not an open concert," said Suhail Ahmad, 23, a university student.

According to the organisers, the initial plan was for an open concert but security concerns forced it otherwise.