Artistry at Royal Opera House: A Night of Music, Magic & Mindful Moments That Left Mumbai Spellbound

From seasoned nostalgia to fresh-eyed wonder, Artistry at Royal Opera House meant different things to different people.

Here are 3 different pov's describing how the event felt to each one of them respectively.

Reuben Saldanha

I arrived at the venue about 10 minutes late since I was starving and had to grab a quick bite. But to my surprise (and slight irritation), the event was delayed by around half an hour. They gave us these really cool, sweet-smelling pouches, though, which was a nice touch.

Eventually, we were let in, and the show began.First up: Harpreet. As a musician myself, I could tell how many years he must’ve put into his craft to sound that good. His Hindi/Punjabi blend hit the heart, and honestly, I was moved.

Then came Anshu Mor—a man who left his high-paying job to chase comedy. And thank God he did. I don’t know what kind of drugs people were on calling him mid. I had a blast. Genuinely fun, sharp, and sad that his act ended so quickly. But hey, time flies when you have fun.

Aditi Surana, the behavioural analyst, was next. At first, I zoned out a little, but then I reminded myself—this woman coaches big people for a reason. So I gave it another shot. And weirdly, it started making sense. Her phrase stuck with me: “Right leg, left leg, growth mode on.”

Intermission hit, and we got to chat with some of the performers outside, which was a cool bonus.

Then: Naman Anand, India’s top mentalist. The whole time he kept saying he wasn’t going to read our minds—we were going to read his. The balloon act? Unreal. He somehow predicted every single audience member’s dream to the word. I still don’t believe it. They had to be in on it.

Laksh Maheshwari followed. The man speaks in poetry. Every word demanded attention. I didn’t think stories could still grip me as an adult—but he proved me wrong. Sad he got cut short due to time.

I was bummed when I saw Fotty Seven wasn’t performing but sitting on a panel. Still, the discussion—with him, Neeraj Pandey, Laksh, and another guest—was insightful. They spoke about AI’s future in music. As an aspiring artist, it gave me a lot to think about.

Finally, Deveshi Sehgal closed the night. Her voice wasn’t just good — it was transcendent. Everyone around me froze. Phones were up, sure, but even through a screen, I doubt that magic could translate. You had to be there.

I walked out lighter, happier, fresher.Big props to DIY Solutions for pulling off such a magical, genre-crossing evening.

Sundar Murugan

So I showed up to Artistry a little annoyed. I’d rushed from college straight to the venue, hungry, mildly sweaty, and not in the mood for people standing around pretending to be too cool for music. And then it got delayed. By half an hour. I was ready to check out mentally.

But once we were finally seated, everything changed.

Harpreet came on first—and man, that dude is stillness. Not just a singer—he’s like that one calm friend who doesn’t speak much but when he does, you listen. His vocals had this emotional weight, and as someone who edits audio as a hobby, I couldn’t stop thinking about the texture in his tone.

Then, Anshu Mor. I didn’t know what to expect—stand-up comedy in between musical acts felt kinda random. But I loved him. His bit about office culture and social media influencers had me legit wheezing. Plus, there’s something powerful about seeing someone walk away from corporate life to chase a mic and spotlight. Mad respect.

Aditi Surana came up next. At first, I’ll be honest—I zoned out. I thought it’d be one of those motivational talks with big words and no real impact. But then she said something about how “you can’t sprint with the wrong shoes and expect a marathon win.” That line hit. Especially since I’ve been feeling burnt out lately. It made me sit straighter in my seat.

The break was chill—we walked around, I bumped into one of the lighting crew and asked about their rig. Total geek moment.

Then came the guy—Naman Anand. Bro. I don’t even know what to say. The way he played the crowd, built suspense, and then that balloon trick?? How the hell did he do that? I looked around, waiting for someone to say it was staged. No one did.

Laksh Maheshwari walked up next. I’d seen clips of his poetry online but live? Different beast. His delivery is like watching a movie without visuals—he paces, he pauses, he breathes the words. And when he started talking about how stories are memory’s echo? I felt that.

I was hoping Fotty Seven would perform but yeah, it turned into a panel. Still, the convo around AI and creativity was fire. It’s scary but exciting, and hearing them break it down made me rethink how I want to write scripts in the future.

And then came the closer—Deveshi Sehgal. No cap, she transported us. Her voice didn’t just fill the hall—it lifted it. Chhaap Tilak was haunting in the best way, and by the time Dama Dam Mast Qalandar hit, people weren’t watching—they were participating.

I walked in cranky. I walked out inspired. Like I’d been around artists who weren’t trying to perform at us, but with us. Artistry lives up to its name. Props to DIY Solutions—y’all gave a broke film student a night to remember.”

Vishal Waghela

18th July, Royal Opera House, Mumbai

Walked into Artistry not really knowing what to expect.

The night kicked off with Harpreet—more than just a singer, the guy glides. He brought this calm energy into the room, and when he did that little soft dance at the end? The whole stage lit up.

Then came Naman, the mentalist. People were visibly stunned. We actually found him outside after and asked if it was all set up. The person he picked was still dazed. Naman just smiled and said, “I don’t know what happened.” You’ve got to see Naman Anand in action to believe it.

Next was Anshu Mor. He’s clearly experienced, knows how to work a crowd. For me, the jokes didn’t fully land, but I get why people enjoy his style.

I was pretty hyped to see 47 perform, but it turned out to be a panel with Neeraj Pandey, 47, Laksh Maheshwari, and one more guest whose name I missed. Unexpected, but honestly? Still engaging.

Laksh Maheshwari stood out. He doesn’t just speak—he sets a scene. Every line felt like it came with mood lighting. His storytelling, cadence, recall—all on point. And when he and Anshu started talking about Tamasha? That moment hit home. That film means a lot to me, so yeah, that stuck.

Then came a surprise slot—Aditi Surana. It was a mix of a pep talk and mental coaching. Not what I expected in the lineup, and while it didn’t fully land for me, it added a thoughtful layer to the evening.

But the real highlight?Devashi Sehgal.She started slow, picked up steam, and then exploded. She and her crew completely owned that stage. Chhaap Tilak changed the energy of the room. By Dama Dam Mast Qalandar, I swear the roof was ready to lift. Her vocals, her presence, the lighting—chef’s kiss.

Overall?

Clean transitions, good energy, and a lineup that actually felt curated.Big respect to DIY Solutions for pulling off an evening that felt like a true love letter to live performance.

Whether you came in as a skeptic, a seeker, or simply along for the ride, Artistry had a way of catching you off guard.

For some, it stirred nostalgia; for others, it sparked ideas. But by the end of the night—whether you were 20, 80, or somewhere in between—one thing was clear: this wasn’t just a show, it was an experience.

One that stayed with you long after the lights came down. Hats off to DIY Solutions for curating a night that felt both personal and electric.

The Team Of Alt Bollywood with Laksh Maheshwari