Nazeef Bhai,
Excellent write up....Inspite of the fact tht i wasnt present at the
concert Physically, reading your write made me feeel as though i was
witnessing the concert live in front of me...Also the Namaz Moment must have
been an enriching Experience for you i guess..
Regards,
Ganesh
On Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 6:18 PM, : Avinash : <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Hi Nazeef! Great writeup man! truly interesting and elaborative..
>
> Thanks & Regards,
> -Avinash
>
>
> --- In [email protected] <arrahmanfans%40yahoogroups.com>,
> "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.
> >
>
>
>
