Penn Masala perform for Gulf News readers

Penn Masala, the world’s first South Asian a cappella group, visited the Gulf News office on Wednesday and serenaded Gulf News readers with some of their hits. The group was first formed in 1996, and with performances at the White House and the Indian International Film Academy (Iifa) Awards in 2014, have come a long way since.

Having performed in front of huge audiences in the past, there didn’t seem to be a nervous bone in their bodies. As they posed for photos, quipping about their large numbers and the difficulty of fitting them in one room, it seemed clear that they had done this many times before.

The group spoke about their new album and the popularity they’ve acquired along their journey. “We’re so thankful for our fans. It’s been a long journey from starting out in 1996. The people who have been in the group before us have done a lot of work for us and we’re obviously hoping to continue to grow on what they did,” they said.

Following the interview, the group performed a few of their hits, beginning with their rendition of the classic Hindi song, Mere Sapno Ki Rani. They then took requests from the viewers of the Facebook Live, beginning with their popular rendition of Heartless and Kabhi Kabhi from the album Panoramic. After persistent requests by fans, they decided to sing their mash-up of Tonight by Pitbull and Dilliwali Girlfriend from the film Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.

Their talent and unrivalled enthusiasm can be witnessed first-hand by fans in Dubai on Thursday, May 18, at Ductac, Mall of the Emirates. Gates open at 7.30pm and the show starts at 8pm.