Clubnite: CARAMEL FEVER

Talk about starting your social calendar with a bang! There’s no questioning the high probability of success that a Caramel (Kiran Arshad Chaudhry’s) performance brings to any event. The one at Chez Nür on February 20th was no exception either!

V∑RV∑ brought out the party beasts (and beauties) in us Lahoris with an exclusive and classy night dedicated to music and life. The ambiance couldn’t have been more fitting. A little after 10 PM, as the doors opened, scores of euphoric Lahoris came through. The red carpet was laid out and cold cans of Red Bull were handed all around.

Assorted cocktails in hands, dressed to the very best and already stirring to the vibrant music that echoed through, there was no doubt that this was the beginning of an entertaining and adrenaline-filled night! The fever had started to set in!

The creative duo of Imtisal Zafar and Arsalan Khan has always managed to put together events that can easily be added to the list of Lahore’s most awaited parties. That comes hand-in-hand with the fan-following Caramel’s very own Kiran enjoys; thus brings together an integral mix of audience that loves her sweet and sultry voice and is willing to follow it to any corner of the country (and even beyond)!

Apart from the dedicated socialites that came to sing along and dance that night, there were some very familiar faces from the entertainment industry that had come to cheer and show their support for the talents on display. The likes of Ammar Belal, HSY, Kamiar Rokni, Farhad Humayun, Amina Haq, Maliha Naipaul and so forth were all set to party in one of the several VIP Lounges that were set up for the party. Sumptuous hors d’oeuvres and flowing cocktails kept the crowds entertained and busy till around midnight when Kiran along with her entourage took to the stage to a wild cheer by masses.

What began as a seemingly segregated affair with VIP Lounges and General Standing enclosures quickly dissolved in to one big group of an eager and progressive audience right in front of the stage! That is the pull Caramel brings to the occasion! Barely in the blink of an eye, all such social lines are wiped clean. Celebrities and Lahore’s A lists’ were standing right next to any other person there. They were all together and they were all young at heart!

We managed to make our way right up to the front where Kiran had just started warming up with her sugary vocals and you could see an exited Kami (Kamiar Rokni) and Sheru (HSY) leading from the front with slogans of appreciation. They are soon joined by likes of Amina Haq and Ammar Belal as the night transcends in to an enchanted ride fueled by lively music! Kiran kept the crowds thoroughly entertained with one song after the other and everyone sang along. Not to forget were the bows of adoration she received from Kami (and co), who seemed to be finding it really difficult to control his dancing feet. We wouldn’t blame him because we ourselves were feeling the Caramel fever by then.

Kiran later invited an aspiring rapper namely Zarrar Said onstage who lent his vocals to Black Eyed Peas hit song – Let’s get it started. Don’t really know much about him but we’d be watching out for him in any future engagements we cover.

The surprise of the party came in the shape of V∑RV∑’s Imtisal himself when he took the stage to sing Ricky Martin’s ‘Livin La Vida Loca‘. This was probably the first time ever that Imti (Imtisal) had performed and boy was he good or was he good. Just a side note here though: don’t be going to the next V∑RV∑ event expecting him to perform as he is going to be very selective about it. And that decision comes from the man himself! Having said that, watch out for a video of his performance soon *wink*wink*

Some of the songs that Kiran sang to kept us all entertained through the night were Sweet Dreams (Eurythmics), Don’t Stop the Music (Rihanna), Love is Gone (David Guetta), Like a Prayer (Madonna), Hit the Road Jack, Boom Boom (Nazia Hassan), I Kissed a Girl (Katy Perry), and Vogue (r (Madonna).

It was around about 2 am when she called it a night and the dance floor opened to a charged crowd that danced the night away! Rock on girl! You did a fantastic show once again! The party went on till about 3 in the morning and yes, we enjoyed every bit of it, courtesy Verve!

-WHAT WORKED

Superb ambiance, an enthusiastic and energized crowd, Kiran working her sultry magic (with her vocals of course), and the surprise performance of Imtisal himself.