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(Legendary Lata Mangeshkar appeared on an electric board to sing ‘Lupa Chhupi Bohot Hui’ song from ‘Rangg De Basanti’ during A R Rahman’s concert in Nagpur. This is a special video which is the unique attraction of Rahman’s show. He said, when Lata Didi blessed him with this special video, he felt the show has turned divine.) |
Electrifying!! No, no! Captivating!! No! Charismatic! No adjective has enough power to describe the atmosphere music maestro A R Rahman created in the Orange City on Sunday (May 15, 2011) evening. When Rahman plays live, it is the closest that several people can get to witnessing a Bollywood concert, a Sufi concert, a Carnatic recital, a fusion music concert, a rock concert, or a rap concert and much more!
Sunday’s concert, the opener of his latest ‘Back to Home’ series, and his first in India after winning the Oscars and the Grammy, was the one that encapsulated the musical horizon where A R Rahman’s music carried the soul.
It was for sure, Nagpur’s biggest outing in recent times, as a little under half-a-lakh people - cutting across age and cultural tastes - drove out at least 6 kilometres from the city, to the concert venue. Though the tickets were priced from Rs 1,000 to Rs 25,000 (prices were slashed a few days prior to the show), that didn’t deter the thousands, many of whom were students, to turn up.
The concert itself started a little more than one hour after the official time of 6.30 pm (in typical Indian Standard Time fashion). By 8.15 pm, the house full crowd had become very restless and had begun shouting in unison for the show to begin. The great Indian struggle for chairs was also visible and organisers (Bodhi Foundation) had to appeal several times for ‘co-operation’.
Just a flash came on massive stage and all chaos settled down. The stage was impressively put together, with the musicians standing around in the backdrop. At the center of the stage was an open space, leading to a stairwell and a raised catwalk. Slightly off the center was a raised platform. Most impressive was a seven to ten feet tall and fourty feet wide electric board at the back of the stage, which would display an animated graphics show for each song during the concert.
The immortal ‘Aalap’ from the movie Roja (originally sung by Chitra) began the show and within a minute, Rahman appeared on stage wearing crimson Sherwani on black trousers. “Jai Maharashtra!”, he said, and asked “Kasa Aahe?” (How are you?). Fascinated audience replied “Majjet!” (fine).
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| Rahman Enters... |
Ho Ja Rangeela Rey..
Rahman began with a song ‘Tere Bina’ from ‘Guru’, a film made by his mentor - Mani Rathnam. Later, a medley from his earlier Bollywood hits ‘Rangeela’ followed in which young Neeti Mohan showcased her extraordinary singing and dancing skills with ‘Yai Re’. Shweta Pandit entered with ‘Tanha Tanha’ while Remo made his entry special with the theme song of movie ‘Daud’. Harshadeep Kaur joined the show with ‘Ni Mai Samaz Gai’ from ‘Taal’. Rahman took the medley to peak by singing ‘Dil Se!’ from yet another Mani Rathnam movie.
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| Dil se Re..... |
Dance with Genda Phool...
Recent works of Rahman dominated the rest of the concert, much like the ensemble of singers, who were mostly contemporary. Some of his long-time regulars were there, though - including Sivamani on drums, Keith Peters on guitar, and Naveen on flute.
There was a lot of ‘Delhi-6’ (Masakkali, Rehana Tu, and Genda Phool), ‘Rang De Basanti’ (title song), and ‘Ghajini’ (Gujarish). But what sent the crowd into raptures was Koncham Nilavu (A rocking Tamil song).
Neeti Mohan, Shweta Pandit, Remo and and Benny Dayal let their hair down in their performer avatars. The team on stage cavorted with some fusion music as well, with the flute, the guitar, the piano (played by the maestro himself) and the sitar. And the all time great Sivamani’s range of percussion instruments made his presence a phenomenon.
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| (Kisi Na Kisi Se Koi Kuchh Keh Raha Hai, Tu Dil Ki Baat Keh De Kehne Mein Kya Hai!) |
Turning classical
Rahman presented memorable song ‘Chanda Suraj Lakho Taren’ from ‘Gurus Of Peace’ (originally sung with Nusarat Fateh Ali Khan) with Javed Ali. He also rendered ‘Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera’ from ‘Swades’, which added classicism to the concert.
The classic touch continued with Harshdeep singing a ‘Thumri’ from Jodha Akbar and Shweta Pandit singing ‘Muskura Jahhan Bhi Hai Tu Muskura’ by Alka Yagnik and Javed Ali from ‘Yuvvraj’. Rahman presented a song ‘Jaa Re Ud Jaa Re’ from ‘Raavan’ which is not in the soundtrack of the movie.
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| (Guru of peace) |
Living legend appears
All were waiting for the moment when legendary Lata Mangeshkar would appear on stage. Rahman announced that he was blessed to get an opportunity to be involved in a long time association with the divine voice of Nightingale of India. “She blessed me with the special video of a song that we sung recently for Rang De Basanti. I hope you will understand the importance (of this moment),” he said, and the track began. The bright screen turned brighter as Lata Didi appeared on it followed by the voice that directly comes from divinity. ‘Luka Chhupi Bahut Huyi Saamne Aa Ja Naa...’ the song began. Rahman closed his eyes. He joined with the lines ‘Kya Batau Maa Kahan Hu Mai...” and the song built up the real mother-child interaction between the legend and the icon.
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| (Marammat Mukaddar Ki Kar De Maula...) |
And the spiritual conclusion
After living legend, it was time for a prayer for which Rahman is well-known. With Javed Ali, he presented ‘Maula Maula’ from ‘Delhi-6’ and later marked the end with ‘Khwaja Mere Khwaja’ from ‘Jodha Akbar’. Both the songs enhanced the spiritual quality of the atmosphere and people left the venue preserving eternal peace that had filled their hearts.
Rahman is a musical wizard who must be credited with several accomplishments. He redefined the concept of sound in film music and infused grace and passion into an otherwise stodgy concept called patriotism. ‘Jai Ho...’ (which he deliberately skipped) has become his signature now, but there was a time when Rahman was busy being pure Rahman - satisfying both masses and purists. Sunday’s concert was the celebration of this pure Rahman.
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| The team of singers who regaled the audience during the concert. |
