God Bless... Am very happy that you met ARR. On Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 8:43 AM, manisha madhavan <[email protected] > wrote:
> > > > I had posted this on my Facebook profile last month. Thought I would share > it here too, after Farzad's suggestion. I have read many Rahmaniacs' > experiences meeting ARR Sir, each one unique and extremely touching. It > truly is a moment of ultimate bliss, as i felt it myself! Well here is my > story, if you have some free time on you hands, please do read. (WARNING: > its quite long) > YES! ...i guess it WAS > written...:-D<http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=251076745187&1&index=0> > Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 5:52pm > > Honestly, don't know where to start. Each time I replay the moment in my > mind, it feels like it was a dream. I keep asking myself, 'Did it actually > happen? Did I actually see ARR Sir? Did I actually shake his hand? Did i > really talk to him?'..YES!...and it was totally unbelievable and still gives > me goosebumps even as i type this. > > The day was August 7th, 2009; a day that will be special and close to my > heart in this life and more. Actually come to think of it, this day would > not have even happened as it did. My flight tickets were all booked and I > was supposed leave to Mumbai from Chennai on 7th morning. Special thanks to > my friend for talking some sense into me, saying that i should postpone my > ticket, as 7th evening was KMMC's one year completion celebration, and ARR > Sir might be coming to the function. So I ended up cancelling my flight and > re-booking it for the 8th. > > So there I was on the 7th at KMMC's first annual day function. Actually I > felt blessed just being there in that music academy hall in Mylapore, just > watching ARR's students practicing and doing final rehearsals for the big > night. All these years I have been following Rahman Sir, watching > interviews, reading articles, and I knew how much this school meant to him, > and for that school to be completing one whole year successfully was an > amazing accomplisment in itself. Thus i was truly happy just to be present > there and be part of it. > > The show was scheduled to start at 6 pm, and the time was nearing. I went > to sit closer (row 6) so i could get a better view of the stage. The stage > was set up so beautifully and very 'classy', just as ARR Sir would have > wanted it. So i was just sitting there quietly observing all the people > (mostly friends and family of KMMC students) getting seated. Then saw all of > ARR's family including his sisters and family, ARR's wife and children, and > his mother taking a seat in the front row. One note to add is that ARR Sir's > wife looks even more ravishing and gorgeous in person than she does in the > pictures I have seen of her. The time was almost nearing 7 and still no sign > of ARR Sir. However, there was an empty seat next to his mother so I was > positive that Rahman Sir would show up. And YES, he finally entered through > the side door, wearing his simple white kurtha and radiating goodness all > over. The whole auditorium stood to give a welcome ovation. YES! Finally, I > had seen the great man himself. What a feeling of pure joy and happiness!! > And what was even more amazing was that I was sitting just 5 rows directly > behind him and there was nobody sitting in the seats directly in front, so > had a clear view throughout the show. Could see when Sir was watching the > show in pure focus or when he was bopping his head for some of the songs, or > when he was whispering something to his mother on his left or to the dean of > Middlesex University on his right. The best moment was when his cute little > son sat on sir's lap, and ARR was happily talking to him. These were truly > unforgettable moments that I feel soo fortunate to have witnessed. And of > course with brilliant performances from KM students and breathtaking > performances from the KM faculty, I was just in heaven. This was really a > magical way to end my trip, with this blissful thing called music. > > After the concert ended, ARR Sir was called on stage to say a few words, > and then presented each of the students with certificate of completion. Then > he soon went backstage, and the lights of the auditorium came on and > everybody started to leave. At this moment I really had mixed feelings. I > was extremely ecstatic that I got to see Rahman Sir just 5 rows away. But i > was slightly sad that I could not capture this moment on camera, as no > photography was allowed. But i was definitely not disappointed. I mean all > these years I have only seen him on TV, internet or through binoculars, but > now i just saw him in flesh and blood through my own eyes. So that itself > made my spirit rise. But I never expected what was to come next. Never in my > life I would have imagined the following would happen: > > As I was talking to one of the most humble Rahmaniacs, i saw a crowd > gathering on stage. Then my friend came and I asked him if ARR was on stage. > And he was like YES...you can go up on stage and see if you can catch a > closer glimpse of ARR. So he lead me up stage and there I was among everyone > else and ARR Sir. At first I could not see him, but i saw many people taking > pics, so I too pulled out my small Cannon Powershot to see if I can get a > quick shot of ARR sir, to preserve this moment. The first attempt, I missed, > as there were too many people in front. Then ARR Sir started to move, along > with him the crowd moved, and along with the crowd i moved... > > Then suddenly within seconds, i just found myself right in front of this > great man in white! It was just me opposite A R RAHMAN. Oh man...I had > imagined this moment only in my dreams. Used to always think about what I > would say to Rahman Sir if I got the opportunity to meet him. And here I was > right in front of him, only at this moment my mind just went totally blank > and everything just froze. I mean I was standing in front of the human being > who i have been following, admiring and looking up to from a far distance > for years. And now he was right in front of me. At that instance i literally > didn't know what was going through my mind and body, just full excitement, > joy, thrill, happiness, all thrown together. Then I just shook ARR Sir's > hand and said "Congratulations Sir, for all your work and accomplishments, > you are really great." and Rahman Sir said "Thank you". Then I just said > "I've come from Canada I think to just be here and watch this amazing show." > And Rahman Sir smiled and said "Oh is it! Good Good!". > > Then it struck me...'OMG what am I doing, I'm just here casually talking to > ARR, when he probably has tons of things to do and places to go, and of > course so many others who probably waiting for a chance. WOW! Then I > immediately remembered and gave my friend my camera and asked ARR..."Sir, > just one pic". And ARR Sir happily posed and this picture manifested.... > > [image: photo.php.jpg] > > Each time i think back to this magical moment, I totally run out of words > to describe the experience. I mean I'm not a singer, a musician, or a > journalist. I'm just a random girl who is a great believer and admirer of > his work and the persona he emulates. And just for ARR Sir to stand there > and listen and respond to me for that moment when there were soo many people > around him, and so many things going on, just proves what a magnificent > being he is, and what kindness, simplicity and humility he embodies. At that > moment of meeting him even between all those people, I felt like it was just > me and Sir who were there. A moment that I will everlastingly cherish. A > moment of sheer bliss, happiness, and excitement. I always felt like I am > somehow connected to this great artist and human being. And after this > incident I feel as though that connection actually materialized and proved > that it existed. > > I remember writing this in my journal when I first came to India on June > 27th: "Some things I want to do in Chennai is visit an orphanage at least > for one day, see the KM Music Conservatory, and hopefully get to meet some > Rahmaniacs. Well seeing ARR Sir would be like a miracle, I was told that he > will not be in India @ that time, so i'm not really keeping my hopes high > up, but still not completely loosing my hope. We'll see sometimes miracles > do happen..." > > And of course it did!! > They say life always throws you with surprises when you least expect it, > and this is another example of just that. Also i truly believe that if all > else fails, one should never lose hope. I believe that no matter what, you > should always give everything your best efforts, and hope for the best for > you and others. And in the end leave it to Almighty. If your wish gets > fulfilled then its awesome, if it does not, then at least you have the > satisfaction that you gave it your best. > > Also I want to add that I had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know > some Rahmaniacs in Chennai. Who are very genuine and the sweetest human > beings. Who made my visit to Chennai more memorable than ever. Its amazing > to meet these gold-hearted people, who's common paths all lead up to one > destination. And that is music. And its through ARR and his music that has > brought us all together. He truly is a musical messiah who will connect this > world and break all boundaries. And you can say that a new revolution has > already begun...a musical revolution. > > I'm so sorry for this lengthy note. Just wanted to try to put this whole > experience into words, if not for others, mainly for myself, so I don't > forget the details, which i'm sure I won't. Also, just returned from India, > so having some major withdrawal symptoms. I just really feel blessed and > sometimes question if I truly deserve all this... > > Manisha M > > ------------------------------ > Looking for the perfect gift?* Give the gift of > Flickr!*<http://www.flickr.com/gift/> > > > -- regards, Vithur
