The mountains of Shimla hummed with quiet anticipation as the sun dipped behind the pines and the evening air grew still. Inside the Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex, warmth gathered not from the lamps alone but from hearts waiting to be moved. It was the second show of Snehdeep Singh Kalsi’s India Tour, and the hills were ready for a night woven in poetry and sound.

The Artist and His Ensemble

Known for his deeply soulful voice and effortless grace across genres, Snehdeep Singh Kalsi carries the essence of ghazals, Sufi, classical, and folk in every note he sings. Accompanied by his gifted ensemble, he creates not a concert but an experience where each song becomes a prayer, and each silence breathes emotion. Together, they brought an intimacy to the stage that made the evening feel like a gathering of kindred souls rather than a performance.

A Night of Soul and Stillness

The journey began with Raag Bandish, an invocation that seemed to awaken the spirit of the hills. From there, melodies like Aye Kuch Abr, Gulon Mein Rang, and Chupke Chupke drifted through the hall like fragrant mist. Each word, each pause, carried tenderness.
When Aye Mohabbat began, time seemed to slow. The crowd sat in quiet awe, wrapped in the melancholy beauty of Snehdeep’s voice. Then came a medley of Aawargi, Itni Muddat, and Unse Nain Milakar Dekho, and the atmosphere turned ethereal, as if the music itself had taken form and floated among the audience.
But it was Maaye Ni Meriye Shimle Di Raahi that made the night eternal. The song, born from the soil and soul of Himachal, found its way home that evening. The crowd erupted in applause, some smiling through tears, others whispering that they had never felt Shimla this alive.
As the setlist unfolded, familiar favorites like Paar Chana De, Ranjish Hi Sahi, Chhaap Tilak, and Aaj Jaane Ki Zidd Na Karo filled the air with devotion and longing. The closing song, Nit Khair Mangan Sohniyan Mein Teri, felt like a blessing offered to the night itself.

Shimla in Song

Outside, the mist curled around the ancient streets of the city, while inside, the final notes lingered softly, refusing to fade. The audience sat in silence, unwilling to let go of what they had just witnessed. Some whispered, “Goosebumps.” Others said, “Still lost in that Sufi beauty.”
In that quiet hall surrounded by mountains, something sacred had taken place. Music had met its reflection in nature, and for a few timeless moments, the city and its people breathed in unison with the voice of Snehdeep Singh Kalsi.
Shimla will remember this night. A night where ghazals met the clouds and Sufi met the soul.