Global Citizen Festival: Chris Martin won over a million hearts with 'Vande Mataram'!

Pic Courtesy: Facebook

New Delhi: Global Citizen Festival India held at MMRDA grounds on November 19 received a warm reception from people thronging to be a part of this event. One of the major talking points of the entire show remained British rock band Coldplay and it's frontman, Chris Martin.

The audience was in for a pleasant surprise when Chris and his band members ended the Global Citizen Festival India concert singing 'Vande Mataram' along with musical legend AR Rahman. The latter also waved the National Flag.

Coldplay performed on a number of songs like Paradise, Viva La Vida, Yellow, Fix You. Keeping the audience in high spirits, Chris Martin also sang his own version of song "Channa Mereya" from Karan Johar's film "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil".

During his performance, Martin said, "Namaste friends, yeh hamari khushkismati hai ki itne khoobsurat desh mein aaye hain. (We are fortunate that we have come to such beautiful country)."

At the start, Martin was introduced by superstar Shah Rukh Khan, cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar and actress Frieda Pinto.

The Global Citizen Festival India 2016 turned out to be the biggest entertainment event of the year in B-Town as several Bollywood celebrities and some international artists shared the stage at the MMRDA grounds.

Bollywood A-listers including megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, Katrina Kaif, Sonakshi Sinha, Parineeti Chopra, Monali Thakur, Arijit Singh, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Arjun Rampal, Suzanne Khan were seen in attendance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was earlier supposed to attend, could not make it to the event. He, however, joined via a video link that was beamed live.

Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra announced the opening of the festival. Singer Arijit Singh began the musical journey by crooning his latest blockbuster track "Ae Dil hai Mushkil" and other chartbusters.

Playback singer Monali Thakur sang her award winning song "Sawaar Loon" from Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha-starrer "Lootera". British pop rock band "The Vamps" performed their hit tracks. They also had great time working with ace choreographer Farah Khan.

"It was great fun meeting Farah Khan. She taught us some cool dance moves," they said. Arjun introduced megastar Amitabh Bachchan on stage and Big B was joined by the Shillong Chamber Choir. He recited a poem which was a tribute to Indian women and gender equality.

Actress Vidya Balan came on stage and spoke about issues like open defecation, clean water and sanitation. Dressed in a red dress, fashionista Sonam Kapoor pledged to educate youth about sustainable development, sharing the goal of making Internet reach about 300,000 villages. While introducing music maestro A R Rahman, Shah Rukh Khan said, "I wouldn't be what I am if it were not for Rahman's "Chaiyya Chaiyya".

King Khan later returned to the stage to introduce American rapper Jay Z. Jay Z made his India debut at the Global Citizen India concert with his hit Bounce, set against a sample of AR Rahman's tune "Chaiya Chaiya". He also crooned his hit songs 'We gonna run this town tonight', '99 Problems', 'In Paris', 'Drunk In Love' and his Panjabi MC collaboration 'Beware Of The Boyz'.

Then came the ever energetic Ranveer Singh who took to stage in his "Bajirao Mastani" costume and danced to "Malhari". Later he changed costume and got in "Befikre" mode as he danced to "Nashe Si Chad Gayi".

Watch video from last night shared by Coldplay on Twitter:

India, thank you for one of the greatest nights of our lives @arrahman #MaaTujheSalaam #GlobalCitizenIndia @glblctznIN pic.twitter.com/RAYEUKKT4p — Coldplay (@coldplay) November 19, 2016

(With PTI inputs)