iWorld
Sonu sets Dal Lake afloat with melodies in Srinagar’s first mega concert
MUMBAI: When the valley sings, the world listens. On Sunday, 26 October 2025, Srinagar will echo with music as Sonu Nigam headlines the first-ever live concert of its scale in Kashmir, a spectacle curated by NDTV Good Times at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), framed by the shimmering Dal Lake and the mighty Himalayas.
The evening will be more than a setlist of filmy hits. It will carry the weight of history, with Nigam paying tribute to Mohammed Rafi, the golden voice of Indian cinema, on the year marking a century of his birth. For fans, hearing Rafi saab’s immortal melodies reimagined against Dal Lake’s twilight shimmer promises to be nothing short of spine-tingling.
“It is more special because we have not seen the celebration of 100 years of the late Mohammed Rafi sahab at Dal Lake. Can you imagine!” said Sonu Nigam. “The whole world knows my connection with my peer, my guru, my inspiration but celebrating his legacy at Dal Lake in Kashmir, celebrating the zest of Kashmir, is going to be really wonderful and special. Looking forward to see you all there.”
The choice of SKICC as the venue is no accident. Nestled on Dal’s banks, its quiet grandeur will transform into a stage where nature becomes part of the performance. As dusk falls, the lake will mirror the stage lights, turning the concert into a once-in-a-lifetime union of landscape and sound.
NDTV CEO & editor-in-chief Rahul Kanwal framed the event as a cultural milestone: “Good Times was created as a canvas for India’s most extraordinary cultural expressions. To bring Sonu Nigam to Srinagar, with the Dal Lake as his stage, is an affirmation of India’s confidence in presenting its heritage, its beauty, and its artistry to the world. This concert is a defining cultural moment for Kashmir and for the country.”
Adding to that, NDTV Good Times chief experiences officer Rahul Kumar Shaw said: “When we said Good Times will be about extraordinary experiences, this is what we meant. The first one is here Sonu Nigam at Dal Lake, a never-seen-before cultural spectacle that puts Srinagar on the world stage. We are the first ones in many years to come here and create something of this scale, and it is a privilege to do so in Kashmir, a land whose people have an unmatched spirit. We’ve promised audiences that every NDTV Good Times experience will be bigger, richer, and more immersive, and this evening is exactly that, a concert you don’t just attend, but one you carry back with you.”
For Kashmir, long immortalised in poetry and cinema, this isn’t just about melodies under the stars. It is about reclaiming a space on the cultural world map, showing the valley as a venue of celebration, pride, and artistry.
Tickets for the concert, available exclusively on District, are already in high demand, with limited seating adding urgency to what is billed as one of Kashmir’s most significant cultural events.
On 26 October, as Sonu Nigam’s voice floats over Dal Lake, the valley will not just host a concert, it will witness music, memory and mountains merge into history.
iWorld
Late Bloomer to stream on Lionsgate Play from March 27
Jus Reign comedy explores identity, ambition and life off schedule
MUMBAI: Late Bloomer is set to arrive on Lionsgate Play on March 27, offering a humorous yet heartfelt take on finding one’s path, even if it comes a little later than expected.
Fronted by Jus Reign, the series follows Jasmeet Dutta, a Punjabi Sikh millennial and aspiring content creator trying to balance viral ambition with family expectations and cultural identity. The result is a coming-of-age story that is less about ticking boxes and more about missing them, and learning along the way.
Set against a backdrop of chaotic nights, family pressures and digital-age dilemmas, the show leans into everyday messiness. From a misplaced laptop spiralling into unexpected trouble to generational clashes at home, Jasmeet’s world is anything but predictable. Yet, it is precisely this unpredictability that gives the series its charm.
The narrative is anchored by a close-knit ensemble, including his cousin Neal, best friend Chippy and his parents Gurdeep and Supinder, who together create a lively mix of humour, tension and warmth.
Adding weight behind the scenes is Russell Peters, who serves as executive producer, lending his signature cultural sharpness to the storytelling.
At its core, Late Bloomer is a gentle reminder that life rarely follows a neat timeline. Sometimes, the detours make for the better story.
