From electrifying concert performances in India to a groundbreaking sporting event in Singapore, Claypaky’s cutting-edge lighting solutions deliver unmatched brilliance and versatility on the global stage.

A dazzling display of Claypaky lighting fixtures illuminated two major events in Asia, showcasing their versatility and performance across vastly different applications. From the electrifying stage of Sunidhi Chauhan’s ‘I Am Home’ tour in India to the pioneering World Taekwondo Virtual Championships in Singapore, Claypaky’s lighting solutions played a pivotal role in crafting immersive visual experiences.

SUNIDHI CHAUHAN’S “I AM HOME” TOUR

Sunidhi Chauhan, one of India’s most celebrated playback singers, embarked on her multi-city ‘I Am Home’ tour, captivating audiences across the country and beyond. Lighting Designer Jasangat Sonpal meticulously curated a lighting rig that could match the dynamic energy of Chauhan’s powerful vocals.

Across the Kolkata and Bangalore (Bengaluru) concerts, Sonpal deployed 72 units of the Claypaky Sharpy X Frames as a central element, ensuring striking and versatile visuals. Additionally, the Kolkata show featured an expanded lighting package, including 32 units of the HY B-EYE K25, 24 units of the Tambora Batten Square, 48 units of the Tambora Flash, 14 units of the Sinfonya Profiles, and 2 units of the ReflectXion moving mirrors. Reynold’s Sound & Lighting Services Pvt Ltd. provided the fixtures for the Bangalore concert; while Light N Light supplied the fixtures for Kolkata.

“Sunidhi Chauhan is the modern-day lady rockstar of India,” says Sonpal. “With this tour she shows her versatility in all the major towns in India and abroad. She is known for many iconic Bollywood songs delivered with her powerful and bold voice. So to match the stage lighting to the tonality and punch of her vocal capabilities, we needed some powerful fixtures. Sharpy X Frames were the perfect fit for her key lights.”

Sonpal highlighted the artist’s direct involvement in the lighting design process, ensuring that every aspect aligned with her creative vision. “She (Sunidhi) was very involved in the whole process of designing lighting for the event. We had a bunch of looks to create, from tight beams to spots and gobos, with key lighting being of very high importance to Sunidhi,” he explains. Eschewing conventional trussing, the design featured a seven-metre LED screen with lighting fixtures arranged in three layers on scaffolding, as well as additional fixtures on the IMAG screen structures.

Sharpy X Frames were chosen for their multifunctionality. “The ability to use them in spot mode, beam mode and with practically all the gobos didn’t disappoint me one bit!” Sonpal remarks. For the Kolkata concert, the inclusion of Sinfonya Profiles provided superior colour rendering. “With the very high CRI and colours of Sinfonya, Sunidhi looked glamorous and gorgeous on camera with highlighted skin tones.” Seven Sinfonyas were used in follow-spot mode, six dedicated to key lighting and one strategically positioned upstage centre on the scaffolding.

The Tambora Flash fixtures delivered an impactful visual punch, particularly for Sunidhi’s classic rhapsodies. “Tambora Flash is a fixture I personally love; I consider them the most important fixture of my show. They were used to create a whole border around the LED screens, placed on top of the main stage LED screens and on top and on the sides of the IMAG screens. The brightness of these fixtures is really good!” Sonpal also incorporated 32 units of the Tambora Batten Squares for their advanced pixel-mapping capabilities. “We were so happy with the performance of the Tambora Battens that three songs were dedicated to using only these fixtures. I was especially impressed with them.”

Additionally, ReflectXion moving mirrors made their debut on the show, bringing a unique dimension to the visuals. “A unique, one-of-a-kind fixture, a first for our show. We have already put them in our riders for all future shows,” Sonpal states. Reflecting on the overall performance, he commended the reliability and quality of Claypaky fixtures, affirming, “We didn’t have one complaint.” The Kolkata show’s successful execution was also credited to Light N Light, with Sonpal praising their efforts. “All the fixtures were very well maintained, the whole team was great and they achieved the entire setup in one day: Given the fact that there was no trussing and each light needed to be pulled up 40 feet, they did a commendable job. Their team and Pankil Ahuja played a crucial role in my choice of Claypaky fixtures for this concert.” Production Manager Aabhas Kamble and FOH Sound Engineer Tanay Gajjar also played key roles in ensuring the show’s technical brilliance.

WORLD TAEKWONDO VIRTUAL CHAMPIONSHIP

The inaugural 2024 World Taekwondo Virtual Championships in Singapore saw a different but equally impressive application of Claypaky lighting. More than 120 athletes from 23 countries competed at the Singapore Sports Hub OCBC Arena 1 in a historic event that blended sport and cutting-edge technology. Lighting Designer Michael Chan of Singapore-based Lighting Insomnia turned to Claypaky’s Sharpy X Frames to deliver an impactful lighting design that enhanced the competition’s futuristic aesthetic.

Chan, whose expertise spans major events, installations, and live performances, carefully structured the lighting rig to maximise visual impact. “To create an exciting opening ceremony while providing sufficient face light for the field of play, the idea was to maximise the number of fixtures we had and to make the lighting rig look bigger and more imposing than it actually was. To achieve that, we had six slanted trusses at varying heights and fitted them with 36 units of the Sharpy X Frames to occupy more of the vertical spaces above the field of play and in the FOH,” he explains.

Chan’s decision to utilise the Sharpy X Frames was based on their adaptability. “Bright, punchy and with great versatility and responsiveness – a real Swiss army knife type of fixture. The fact that they are so punchy in beam mode and yet can be instantly converted to a large profile fixture with framing was key to their selection.” The Sharpy X Frames delivered on all expectations, with Chan confirming, “They performed fantastically well. They did everything I asked of them, and the support from Claypaky was great.” The fixtures for the event were supplied by rental house MediaPix Pte Ltd with crucial support from Acoustic and Lighting Singapore, who serve as the regional distributor for the brand. Haikal operated the lighting during the championships.

FUTURE’S LOOKING BRIGHT

With both the ‘I Am Home’ tour and the World Taekwondo Virtual Championships, Claypaky fixtures once again proved their versatility and reliability across different live event formats. Whether illuminating a Bollywood superstar or defining the visual tone of an international sporting event, Claypaky continues to set the standard for excellence in professional lighting solutions.