Nagpur: The Ishwar Deshmukh College Ground in Hanuman Nagar shook under the sheer force of music, passion and devotion on the final day of the Khasdar Sanskrutik Mahotsav 2025, as legendary composer duo Ajay–Atul delivered a spellbinding performance that will echo in Nagpur’s memory for years.
The Ajay–Atul mania gripped Nagpur long before the concert began. By 3 pm, three hours ahead of schedule, roads leading to the venue were jammed solid. Thousands marched towards the ground, transforming the neighbourhood into a sea of eager, restless energy. Outside the gates, an even bigger crowd huddled around giant screens, spilling across adjoining roads, determined not to miss a single note.
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19 Oct 2025
Inside the vast venue, there wasn’t a stretch of ground left uncovered. Nagpur had gathered with one intention, to roar.
When the first note dropped, Nagpur exploded
The moment the opening chants of ‘Jai Jai Survar Pujit’ boomed across the arena, the atmosphere ignited. Waves of energy rippled through the crowd, and when ‘Natrang Ubha’ began, the audience’s earth-shaking roar felt like a controlled earthquake.
Ajay and Atul walked onto the stage to a reception so thunderous that even they paused in disbelief. Overwhelmed, they expressed heartfelt gratitude:
“Nagpur has loved us since our first concert in 2009. Last year we told Gadkariji we wanted to return. Today, seeing this love again gives us the strength to create more,” they said, also saluting the thousands standing outside the venue, watching from afar but refusing to leave.
The performance of ‘Indra Jimmi Jambh Par’, a powerful tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, transformed the entire ground into a battleground of devotion. Chants of ‘Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji’ thundered through the neighbourhood, vibrating through the night air.
The devotional segment, ‘Malhar Wari’, ‘Udhe Ga Ambe Udhe’, ‘Aai Bhavani’, ‘Gondhal Mandala Bhavani’, ‘Ka Ya Nadichya Palyad,’ turned the massive space into a sanctum of music and spirituality.
Voices that ruled the night
The tempo soared as Manish and Nihira fired up the crowd with ‘Jeev Dangla’, followed by Rishikesh Ranade, whose renditions of ‘Mere Naam Tu’, ‘Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin’ and ‘Man Udhan Varyache’ washed over the audience like emotional tides.
Nagpur’s very own Sharayu Date added a local flavour of pride with her stunning performance of ‘Dhadak Hai Na’ alongside Ajay.
The avalanche of hits that shook the ground. Then came the moment Nagpur waited for, the back-to-back blockbuster storm:
• Khel Mandla
• Apsara Aali
• Wajle Ki Bara
• Amba Bai Cha Gondhal
• Attacha Bayaa
• Sairat Zhala Ji
• Zingaat — the grand detonator
The ground erupted. People danced, screamed, sang, jumped, and cried in ecstasy. Thousands of phone flashlights turned the sky into a shimmering universe as Nagpur surrendered to pure musical madness.
A grand finale scripted with precision
The evening opened with a lamp-lighting ceremony featuring Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Hyundai India’s Executive Director Geojik Lee, MLAs Sumit Wankhede and Sameer Kunawar, former MPs Ajay Sancheti and Sunil Mendhe, former MLA Milind Mane, MLC Parinay Fuke, Nana Shamkule, and others.
Anchors Bal Kulkarni and Renuka Deshkar kept the momentum alive.
Behind the spectacle stood the tireless efforts of Organising Committee Chairman Anil Sole, Vice-President Dr. Gaurishankar Parashar, Ashok Mankar, Dilip Jadhav, Secretary Jayprakash Gupta, Treasurer Prof. Rajesh Bagdi, and an entire team who flawlessly executed the 12-day cultural extravaganza.
