The Malayalee festive season in Singapore got off to a vibrant start as Noah Onam Live 2K26 brought together popular Malayalam singers, actors and about 1,400 enthusiastic fans for an evening of music, entertainment and celebration at the Quantum Arena @ OWIS in Punggol on Aug 1.
Organised by Noah Events, the four-hour show proved to be a fitting curtain-raiser for the upcoming Onam festivities, with audience members praising not only the performances but also the smooth organisation, free shuttle services from Punggol MRT, complimentary Marmaris Chicken Mandi and door gifts that added to the family-friendly atmosphere.
The concert featured energetic performances by Sidharth Menon and his live band, Sanah Moidutty and Jyotsna Radhakrishnan, while Malayalam film stars Antony Varghese (Pepe), Siju Wilson and Saniya Iyappan made special appearances. RJ Mithun kept the audience entertained throughout as master of ceremonies.
One of the highlights of the evening was the launch of Sidharth Menon Entertainment, with Singapore becoming the first overseas venue for the singer’s new entertainment venture.
“I always wanted to start something like this, but I never imagined the first show would be in Singapore,” Sidharth told tabla!.
He credited his collaboration with Noah Events for turning the idea into reality and said the objective was to create a different entertainment experience by bringing together musicians, actors and performers on one stage.
“We have set a benchmark here in Singapore because of the combination of artistes. Everyone is my friend and we were all cheering for one another on stage. It felt like one big family, and that chemistry was visible to the audience,” he said.
Sidharth said the Singapore show was only the beginning, with plans to take the concept to Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada through future collaborations.
“I just want to create brilliant shows with combinations that people haven’t seen before,” he said. “These are baby steps, but we want to grow this across different countries.”
Singer Jyotsna Radhakrishnan, performing in Singapore for the first time since 2018, said she noticed a significant change in local audiences.
“I feel they are much more receptive now. People are singing along, dancing and enjoying themselves. After Covid, audiences around the world have realised that music and art are important for their mental well-being,” she said.
She also praised Singapore audiences for embracing different musical styles, from lively dance numbers to soulful melodies, making the performance especially enjoyable.
While the overwhelming response was positive, a small section of the audience expressed disappointment that actress Saniya Iyappan performed only two dance segments, with some hoping to see more of the popular Malayalam star on stage.
Sidharth explained that artistes were given the freedom to decide their performances and that the programme had been carefully paced to ensure the show ran seamlessly without delays.
