Anirudh's - Hukum World Tour - Bangalore.

Hukum World Tour - Anirudh

31 May 2025
Terraform Arena 
Bangalore

Guest artists - Jonita Gandhi, Asal Kolaar, DJ Gowtham

Bass Guitar - Keba Jeremiah 

Set List and Videos at the end

 

31 May 2023 –  Hans Zimmer happened. It was a total coincidence that when I signed up for this concert, the date turned out to be 31 May again! Early bird tickets came at a great deal—₹5,000 for the Platinum zone. One of Bangalore’s new international-standard venues, the Terraform Arena , hosted the event.

We got in around 5:30 PM—thanks to an under-construction bridge and the our trademark ill-disciplined driving. The tickets said showtime was 6:00 PM. Now, we’re used to some delay—but with no published opener, one would expect a 15–20-minute buffer at best.

A DJ and MC were working overtime to hype up the crowd, but our patience was thinning. Most of us in the Platinum enclosure had comfortably settled into the (surprisingly sand-free!) grass.

By 6:50 PM, Anirudh’s longtime collaborator DJ Gowtham took the stage and delivered a stellar warm-up set, blending Anirudh’s famous themes—including this  beauty from Doctor and other interludes. He returned mid-way through the concert for another 15–20-minute high-energy set. Gowtham’s deep knowledge of Anirudh’s music and his seamless crowd control made him one of the night’s unexpected highlights—Bravo!

At 7:15 PM, the Rockstar arrived.

Making a very MJ-style entry to the booming anthem Hukum, Anirudh promised us three hours of non-stop fun—and he largely delivered. Of course, this is a concert you walk into knowing his music and setting your expectations accordingly.

My own Anirudh journey began nearly two decades ago, when he performed with his PSBB (Padma Seshadri) school band—alongside Leon James—at my cousin’s wedding. (My chitti was a senior faculty member at PSBB KK Nagar.) Little did I know that I’d be reminiscing about that memory in front of thousands nearly 20 years later.

Sure, his cinematic lineage and ties to the Rajinikanth family may have opened doors—but there is no denying what he’s accomplished over the past 14–15 years. Anirudh is a force—his themes, hero-intro tracks, and bangers drive fans into a frenzy and often become the pulse of a film before its release. 

I have followed his music for years. His tracks are must-haves for my long drives—keeping the adrenaline up and the eyelids open! He’s the sultan of “soup songs,” the king of “bangers,” and all the Gen Z lingo rolled into one. Sure, his melodies are underrated (few and far between, unfairly) -  I would have loved a few more of them in the set—but I knew what I signed up for.

For my wife and son, who only know a few of his tracks, it was all about grooving and soaking in THE VIBE

(PS: We were probably among the 10% of the crowd pushing past age 30. The average age must’ve been 24–25.)

Jonita Gandhi—who we were excited to see—appeared in the second act and performed some of their crowd-favorite collabs, which were received enthusiastically. Sadly, we didn’t get to hear her truly powerful voice in its full range. She could have easily added soul to the unplugged segment, which mostly featured a Anirudh (already quite exhausted) playing mellow versions of hits on a second, intimate stage in the center of the arena.

The last act featured his #pattaikallapping shakers, which largely relied on the crowd's energy and singing, because by then Anirudh had lost his voice and was running on fumes.

TBH - As DJ Gowtham rightly set the tone early on: this wasn’t a concert—it was a party. And what a WILD party it was! and we had a good time!

The opening act - 7:15 PM

with Jonita Gandhi - Arabic Kuthu

Unplugged 

Soup Mode

Sound and Lighting was good!

SET LIST - ( I did my best, may have missed a couple here or there) 

Set One - 

• Hukum - Jailer
• Leo Theme - Leo
• Oh Penne (Idhazin Oram) - 3
• Thangamey - Naanum Rowdy Thaan
• The Fear Song - Devara 
• Chennai City Gangster
• Pathikichu - Vidaa Muyarchi  
• Mass Maranam - Petta
• Kolaveri - 3
• Badass - Leo

Set Two

• Naa Ready thaan  - Leo (with Asal Kolaar)
• Vaathi coming - Master
• Theme from Paradise
• Disco and Coolie - Coolie
• Vikram Title - Vikram
• Jonita Gandhi - 
• Halamati Habibo - Beast
• Donu Donu - Don
• Chaleya - Jawaan
• Davudi - Devara 
• Selfie Pulla - Thuppaki
• Chuttamale -  Devara
• Kaavala - Jailer

Set Three - Unplugged

• Po ni Po - 3
• Dheema Dheema - LIK 
• Jersey Theme - Jersey
• Kutti Story - Master
• Bhoomi Yenna Sutthude - Ethir Neechal
• and a couple of more songs.

Set Four - The Conclusion

• Maari Thara Local - Maari
• Dippa Dapam - KVK
• Ethir Neechal - Ethir Neechal
• Udhunganda Sangu - VIP
• Aaluma Doluma - Vedalam

Video snippets

The Rockstar entry 

Hukum

Badass - Stunning vibe

Arabic Kuthu with Jonita Gandhi

Vikram - Pounding the stage!

Kutty Story - our Anirudh singing with Anirudh!

Jersey Theme - Much in demand and lovely!

                            

Dippa Dapam - one more of our Anirudh's favourite

Whatta Karuvaad

Aaluma Doluma - The closing act