What an experience....what a write-up! Thanks for this detail narration....i
was really waiting for this.
You didnt mention what hapend to Gaurav later? Did he sing?
And, please dont stop writing concert review from personal point of view.
That personal touch of yours, I think, makes your article more grounded and
enjoyable.
Keep up the good work.
Durba
naztitude <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
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.
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