• Jam 202 perform during the Hit Music Festival at Expo 2020 Dubai, on the Jubilee Stage, on January 22. All photos: Expo 2020 Dubai
    Jam 202 perform during the Hit Music Festival at Expo 2020 Dubai, on the Jubilee Stage, on January 22. All photos: Expo 2020 Dubai
  • DJ Savio performs during the South Indian music festival.
    DJ Savio performs during the South Indian music festival.
  • The Hit Music Festival, featuring top South Indian musicians, made a comeback at Expo 2020 Dubai, with 15 artists performing during the marathon seven-hour show.
    The Hit Music Festival, featuring top South Indian musicians, made a comeback at Expo 2020 Dubai, with 15 artists performing during the marathon seven-hour show.
  • singer, poet and social media sensation Arya Dhayal, who performed her debut single 'Try My Self'.
    singer, poet and social media sensation Arya Dhayal, who performed her debut single 'Try My Self'.
  • The multitalented DJ Mangal Suvarnan on stage.
    The multitalented DJ Mangal Suvarnan on stage.
  • Sachin Warrier, known for his song 'Muthuchippi Poloru' from the Malayalam film 'Thattathin Marayathu', gives a powerful performance.
    Sachin Warrier, known for his song 'Muthuchippi Poloru' from the Malayalam film 'Thattathin Marayathu', gives a powerful performance.
  • Rock and blues group Rock Paper Scissors also delight visitors.
    Rock and blues group Rock Paper Scissors also delight visitors.
  • Singer and actor Siddharth Menon, co-founder of the band Thaikkudam Bridge, performs.
    Singer and actor Siddharth Menon, co-founder of the band Thaikkudam Bridge, performs.
  • Menon reacts to the crowd.
    Menon reacts to the crowd.
  • Visitors watch performances in several genres and languages, from Tamil to Malayalam.
    Visitors watch performances in several genres and languages, from Tamil to Malayalam.
  • Actress Remya Nambeesan, a familiar face on the Malayalam and Tamil film circuits, on the Jubilee Stage.
    Actress Remya Nambeesan, a familiar face on the Malayalam and Tamil film circuits, on the Jubilee Stage.
  • Singer and music producer KS Harisankar, who works in Malayalam cinema, performs his set on the Jubilee Stage.
    Singer and music producer KS Harisankar, who works in Malayalam cinema, performs his set on the Jubilee Stage.
  • Harish Sivaramakrishnan, lead vocalist of rock band Agam, who closed the show.
    Harish Sivaramakrishnan, lead vocalist of rock band Agam, who closed the show.

South Indian Hit Music Festival delights crowds at Expo 2020 Dubai


Katy Gillett
  • English
  • Arabic

Over the course of seven hours on Saturday, visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai were treated to a marathon musical medley of South Indian performers as part of the Hit Music Festival.

The event, which made its debut in 2020 in Sharjah, featured 15 artists who took to the Jubilee Stage, performing to the crowd across several genres and languages, from Tamil to Malayalam.

Scroll through the photo gallery above to see performers at Expo's Hit Music Festival.

Artists on the bill included young Keralite singing sensation Suchetha Satish, 16, who made headlines at aged 12 for breaking a Guinness World Record by singing in 102 languages. She kicked off the festival with a short multilingual set at 5pm.

Also performing were singer and actress Remya Nambeesan, a familiar face on the Malayalam and Tamil film circuits, and Sachin Warrier, known for his song Muthuchippi Poloru from the Malayalam film Thattathin Marayathu.

Rock and blues trio Rock Paper Scissors also delighted visitors – who attended the concert for free with an Expo pass – alongside singer, poet and social media sensation, Arya Dhayal, who performed her debut single Try My Self.

Singer and actor Siddharth Menon from Kerala, co-founder of the band Thaikkudam Bridge, performed along with singer Jyotsna Radhakrishnan, who sings in 12 languages and has more than 1,000 songs in her repertoire.

KS Harisankar, a singer and music producer who comes from a family of musicians and predominantly works in Malayalam cinema, also took to the stage.

Harish Sivaramakrishnan, the lead vocalist of rock band Agam, who performs a progressive version of Carnatic music, the South Indian classical system of music, was the final performer of the night, with a 45-minute set.

A range of performers have taken to the stage at Expo 2020 Dubai over the past few months, with plenty more to come. A hit K-pop show took place last with, with American pop-rap trio Black Eyed Peas on the bill for this coming Tuesday.

See photos of K-pop stars impressing crowds at Expo last weekend:

  • Popular boy band Stray Kids show off their dance moves on the Jubilee Stage at Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Miaad Mahdi / Expo 2020 Dubai
    Popular boy band Stray Kids show off their dance moves on the Jubilee Stage at Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Miaad Mahdi / Expo 2020 Dubai
  • Stray Kids performing during the K-Pop concert on the Jubilee Stage. Photo Miaad Mahdi / Expo 2020 Dubai
    Stray Kids performing during the K-Pop concert on the Jubilee Stage. Photo Miaad Mahdi / Expo 2020 Dubai
  • Sunmi performs during the K-pop concert in honour of South Korea's country day at Expo 2020 Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Sunmi performs during the K-pop concert in honour of South Korea's country day at Expo 2020 Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Sunmi was once a member of the girl group Wonder Girls but left in 2010 to pursue her studies before returning to a singing career. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Sunmi was once a member of the girl group Wonder Girls but left in 2010 to pursue her studies before returning to a singing career. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Psy performs during the K-Pop concert on the Jubilee Stage. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
    Psy performs during the K-Pop concert on the Jubilee Stage. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
  • During his show, Psy announced that he is planning to release a new album this year. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
    During his show, Psy announced that he is planning to release a new album this year. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
  • Psy closes the event with a performance of his hit song 'Gangnam Style'. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
    Psy closes the event with a performance of his hit song 'Gangnam Style'. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
  • (G)I-dle perform at the K-pop concert in matching attire. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    (G)I-dle perform at the K-pop concert in matching attire. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Golden Child show off their moves. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Golden Child show off their moves. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Crossover act Forestella take to the stage. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Crossover act Forestella take to the stage. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The members of (G)I-dle post on stage. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The members of (G)I-dle post on stage. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Fans enjoy the K-pop concert celebrating South Korea's country day at Expo. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Fans enjoy the K-pop concert celebrating South Korea's country day at Expo. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Fans brave the rainy weather to enjoy the K-pop concert. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Fans brave the rainy weather to enjoy the K-pop concert. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Quartet Forestella perform at the K-pop concert. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Quartet Forestella perform at the K-pop concert. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Updated: January 23, 2022, 9:27 AM