He enthralled the audience with his rendition of Raag Marubihag and a Vilambit Khyal in Taal EkTaal. The cold weather didn't interfere with people enjoying the latter's lyrics of Unari Se Jaye Kaho More Man Ki Bitha. He also performed two enamouring bhajans, Drut Teen Taal and the soulful Patiya Likh Bheji.
Rahul's opening act was followed by a joint performance by Ustad Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan, Sivamani and U Srinivas, who together make the musical group Shakti. Held in the New English School grounds in Ramanbaug, the master of ceremonies was the ever-effervescent Nana Patekar who amused the audience with his satirical comments and his information of Vasantotsav.