Jaipur- History rewritten!!
As the whole world may know-Rajasthan, The incredible state of India, known for it's grand history, festivals and its capital just concluded the celebrations of what was called the Rajasthan Day Celebration. The weeklong festival had people all over the world coming in to participate. Jaipur-With its rich and colourful past, resplendent with tales of valour and bravery, breathtaking beauty, stunning jewelry, over a hundred feet long fort walls, precious stone-embedded palaces, the `Rajputs' as quoted-who use swords to wear the `tilak' on their foreheads and with a reputation of being included as a city with a striking knowledge of astronomy and geometric planning had to rewrite its History. All of the aforementioned took a bow-when one musician entered this city, with innumerable adjectives. Little did they know, that all the History that is talked about would look like the smallness of an ant, when the Azeem O shaan Shahenshah himself would rewrite History. The whole city halted when this man sang. And they continued singing even after he left them. Who heard them?! Gomtesh, Navas, Pavan and myself heard Jaipuri's sing "Ae mere darbar main khwaja", when hours before they sang the title tracks of `welcome' and `race'. A gtalk talk with Gomzy, a little bit of "googling" on Jaipur and tickets were booked. Bags were packed-with clothes,cameras and luck.Lots of them. Jaipur gave us a warm welcome indeed-in the literal sense also, and the regular sandstorms ensured that we took baths at regular intervals. The autos here are twice the size I see here, and is adorned with all the possible mythical figures.Jaipur!! The weeklong celebration had a lot of artists coming in-prior to ARR's performance, were Sunidhi Chauhan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and a few others. They all seemed like a cup of water in front of the might oceans when ARR's show happened. The group that came together was Vithur, Gomzy, Navas, Pavan and myself. It surely brought back memories of the Bangalore, Delhi and Chennai concert. The stage setup was amazing. The lighting was excellent. And this time, I believe ARR had the most rigourous practise session.Till 5.30 in the morning!! We decided that the next day we load ourselves with cameras and go sight seeing-and make full use of the long journey undertaken. But God made different plans for us. The long prayers and planning, worked out. We went to the Hotel where ARR was put up. Thanks to understanding people in the ARR family, we got a chance to meet him. I had the great opportunity to walk with ARR from his room to the lobby where the rest of us waited. And what he asked me on the way was perhaps the most awaited moment of my life ."Hey, do you want to come for Namaaz with me?? " I was stunned. I had no time to even repeat the question in my mind. I said "Yes, of course" obviuosly.But first-he stopped by to meet the group. He spoke to us for a few minutes. Very relaxed, composed and calm he was. He volunteered for photographs, autographs, handshakes and hugs. Gaurav, a finalist in the airtel super singer, was there in the hotel. He came, hoping he'll get a chance to get a glimpse of ARR.But what he got from ARR, just remains testimony to the fact that ARR is the greatest and most humble. ARR recognised him. He gave him an autograph and asked him-"Hey, do you want to sing with me tonight!? " Now, this is what I call FATE. Gaurav was stunned. So were we. So was the world. He requested to sir that he'd sing for Pukar, and the gentleman musician smiled and said "ok, see you at the venue" .Cried Gaurav.Such was the greatness in the man. Then came my moment. My most awaited moment. To have rubbed shoulders with Rahman and to get deep into prayers. To read Namaaz with him, that too on a Friday, which we believe is a like a mini Eid. To have read the Du'a with him. To have wished the angels together. Rahman no doubt imbibed in me a great sense of Sufism through his music, but this prayer surely made me a more spiritual person in life. Rahman would close his eyes and not open till his prayer got over. Dressed in a white kurtha and a green topi-ARR won the hearts of the people around him. And God. That was the man AR Rahman. I wish to follow this, with the magician musician AR Rahman. Evening.8 pm. The police in jaipur were shocked. They failed to understand that for years, they never saw such a huge gathering in this city, what had made the rather conserved people of jaipur come out and break barricades. A free entry is not a free entry. More than 60 percent of the seats are reserved and kept designated. The remaining portion was the free entry area and very silly of the organisers to have done that-as the crowd came out of proportions.They broke barricades.They forced upon themselves a lathi charge. On the other side of the venue was a huge stage. With a repertoire of over 70 musicians, singers and dancers , came the Pied Piper Rahman!! A mind blowing stage setup. A must mention-the sound and lights. The dancers, for after a long time, the song and the choreo sequenced. Present for the evening, was the CM of Rajasthan herself, Smt Vasundhara Raje. And she stayed throughout the show, that being from around 8.15 to 11 pm. There was a felicitation program and ARR was presented a momento from the CM, and the latter in turn asked for a favor. And that being favorable to all of us. You hardly have politicians do favors to the people, but this one could be included in the history rewriting. She requested for Dil hai chota sa from Roja. And how happy he was to play it for her. The song was not a part of the list and Neeti Mohan almost did a superb job of pulling it off without the lyrics.And Rahman's Yelelo to add to the already sweet song. Another special Family was the royal family of Rajputana- the great grand daughter of Jodha Bai, who was there for the music launch was here too. She told rahman, that he truly is the emperor of music. Thanked Javed Ali for being the beautiful voice behind Jashne Bahara. She stayed right till the artists left the stage. The concert began with Jaage hain from Guru, with AR Rahman dressed in a royal white sherwani, sang from one corner of the stage in complement to Sadhna Sargam's voice and the heavy orchestration behind the song.Each time ARR moved from one level of the stage to the other, he went higher and higher. And the crowd goes mad. The list of songs performed are as follows. Blaaze intro (Blaaze) Jaage hain (Sadhna/ARR) Khalbali (ARR) O humdum (ARR/Benny/Naresh) Roja (Hari/Sadhna) Barso Re (Neeti Mohan) Patshaala (Blaaze/Naresh/Aslam) Jashne Bahara (Javed Ali) Chupke se (Sadhna/ Javed Ali) Roobaroo (ARR/Naresh) Dil se re (ARR) Satrangi re (Javed Ali) Chale Chalo (ARR/Benny/Naresh) Azeem O shaan (Aslam/Dr Narayan/Chorus) Felicitation Khwaja Mere Khwaja (ARR/Aslam/Dr) Tu hi re (ARR/Sadhna) Tumhari adaaon main vari vari (Sadhna/female back ups) Kesaria (Sadhna Sargam) Aye hairathe (Hari/Sadhna) Vaaji Vaaji (Hari/Madhushree) Maiya Maiya (Neeti/Aslam) Kabhi neem neem (Madhushree/ARR) Rang De Basanti Chola (Javed Ali) Ghanan Ghanan (Hari/Aslam Khan/Sadhna/Madushree/Naresh/Javed) Tere Bina (ARR/Madhushree) RDB Title (Sadhna/Aslam Khan) Humma humma (ARR/Blaaze) Vande Matram (ARR/All) Initially there seemed plans, of playing Fanaa, but was quite wondering how this would go without Tanvi, and true to the wonderment, this song was called off and so was Ishq bina, for reasons unknown. The concert was energy packed.All were Hindi songs except Sivaji which was mixed.Blaaze gave the initial energy shots.ARR entered and the crowd wont stop. Each song was amazing-in voice and performance.No flaws!! Khalbali was as usual super energised. O humdum was awesome. It was like made for the show.Roja was an old favorite. Neeti never fails to perform well.She won hearts with Barso re.Dilse re was touching.The sweet voice that plays there-so reached your heart, from his own. After a long time, my dream of hearing him play Chale Chalo was fulfilled. I heard him last in Bangalore. This song is a masterpiece. The strings and percussions. Needless to mention, the medley Azeem o Shaan plus rukkumani plus Veerapandi always remains my favorite. A treat to eyes, ears and heart.What energy levels for that piece. Sivamani hates to take rest.Its an assumed fact-that his hands ache when they stay idle. His solo performance was surely a thing to remember. Main vari vari was a special for the north indian audience. The winning performer surely was the new comer in the gang-Javed Ali.With a song like Jashne baharaa, which I believe will already win the song of the decade award-and a voice like that, he just ensured a permanent seat in the gang. What a performer he is!! What a voice and what energy!! He replaced Sonu nigam and Sukhwinder singh with ease. He sang his own jashne bahara, followed by satrangi re and Chaiya chaiya. Satrangi re is a song that requires serious voice modulation and tuning, and chaiya chaiya, the energy level to stay that high for that long. And what Javed did, was all that was needed and that too with ease. He won his place in the team. Super show. Rahman was super charged this show. His energy and enthusiasm was show when hi joined Javed in another super song-Rang de basanti chola. Rahman joined Aslam Khan in RDB. It was a rare occasion to see ARR vocally participate in these songs. And then there was Ghanan Ghanan, with all those appointed to sing the song began with randomn alaaps-and a small string section played at the back, while at once, they begin the song and complemented by a heavy string section. Vande matram closed the show. Penultimately, it was Humma humma. Blaaze entered into the crowds. He is one superhero. Wonder where he gathers so much energy from.Tere bina was good, but somehow, without taking credit away from Madhushreeji, I feel this song belongs to Chinmayi. Her voice modualtion. Like they say, every voice is unique- So thus!! The crowd was good, in turn out and involvement. They were better than the private concert ones in chennai. Good energy they showed. They surely told Rahman they loved him. And so did Rahman. He stayed there for more than three hours, singing. Thank you Lord for giving me the blessed chance to witness this event. To my parents for having supported me in my passion towards Rahman.For having given me the chance to teleprompt. To Benny, for being there and for spending time with us. The sweetness list extends to Sayanora, Raihanaji, Javed Ali, the super talented flute man Naveen. To Blaaze for being such a special friend. To Hari haran ji-for the unconditional support.To Aslam Bhai and Dr, they entertain us both off and on stage!! To Rahman sir.Thank you. We cant stop thanking you enough on your greatness and your sweet gestures. For having accpeted to stop by and meet us. For having obliged to bear with us for longer than usual, inspite for having to run for prayers. Thank you sir. We pray that Allah showers his choiciest blessings on you. You truly remain in our hearts. As always in my write up about the concerts-This mail from a very persaonal point of view I apologise for writing this in a detailed manner.It was on a request from a few members. Im sorry If I have failed to mention anyone or anything about the entire event. It remains unintentional and purely accidental. Like said already, Rahman rewrote history.Jaipur that gives evidence to the grand history that our textbooks spoke of, bowed down to his majesty, his musical genius. Rahman. He came.He sang.He conquered.
