February 10, 2025: Ed Sheeran’s highly anticipated India tour continued with an unforgettable night in Bengaluru, where the British singer-songwriter captivated the audience with his incredible talent. Performing as part of his + – = / x tour, Sheeran not only performed his famous hits like Perfect and Photograph but also treated the crowd to something truly special—an iconic collaboration with Indian playback singer Shilpa Rao.
During the concert, Sheeran and Rao joined forces to sing Chuttamalle, a popular Telugu song originally sung by Shilpa Rao. The moment was a highlight of the evening, with Sheeran impressing the audience by almost flawlessly singing the Telugu lyrics, a feat that left fans in awe.
Taking to Instagram, Ed Sheeran expressed his admiration for Rao, saying, “Obsessed with @shilparao’s voice for the last while, a real privilege to share the stage tonight, and learn a new language!” The duo’s performance was met with loud applause and cheers from the Bengaluru crowd, making it a night to remember.
However, before the main event, Ed Sheeran experienced an unexpected setback. He had planned an impromptu performance at Church Street, Bengaluru, but the local police intervened and stopped the performance. A viral video showed Sheeran starting the performance before the police cut off the speaker cables within a minute. Sheeran later responded on social media, claiming that his team had obtained prior permission for the performance.
Shekar T Tekkannanavar, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for Central Bengaluru, clarified the situation, stating that while a member of the event organizers had approached him seeking permission, he had refused due to the area’s crowding issues. He mentioned that the singer was asked to vacate the area for safety reasons.
Despite the interruption earlier in the day, Sheeran’s Bengaluru concert went on to be a massive success. The singer, who had already performed in Hyderabad and Chennai, is making his way across India, with more shows planned in Shillong and Delhi NCR.
During his Chennai performance, Sheeran was joined by none other than the legendary composer AR Rahman, and the two collaborated on a special rendition of the classic Urvashi song. Prior to the concert, Sheeran also met Rahman and his son, AR Ameen, with Rahman sharing photos from their meeting on Instagram, with the caption “Photos by Ed Sheeran.”
Fans across India are eagerly anticipating the remaining shows of Sheeran’s tour, as his India visit continues to be an unforgettable musical experience.