AR Rahman - Bangalore

The most noteworthy event of this month, hell, I'd say even of my life was attending Rahman's concert, for the third time, in my life. I remember the chills and unexplainable joy I'd experienced standing in the rain, with Shankar Mahadevan and Rahman's jugalbandi on Ghanan ghanan, years back at Palace Grounds. None of the emotions changed later in 2010, when I attended his concert in Houston. Only the mouth went wider with amazement as to how on earth 'an Indian composer can pull of a show of such magnitude', to quote myself from twitter.

When I learnt about the concert happening in Bangalore again, it reminded me of the chills, the emotion all over again. I knew I would not be disappointed, I wasn't. Not with the songs, or singers or the set or the lighting. But, to an extent with the sound guy. I'm sure a lot of attention would have been paid to it, he probably had a bad day. 

The concert as a whole, was awesome. I'm probably very fortunate for having seen two concerts organised in such a grandeur. Cancel probably, a la VW. I'd expected the song line up at Houston to remain the same, more or less at least. It took me entirely by surprise. 

The show started off with Yelelo, the lines from Roja, immediately inciting a thunderous applause and bursting out of all pent up emotions, sending chills everywhere, influencing the tear glands to a great extent. In short, nothing in the world mattered anymore, and everything but for the song, the voice and the man seemed infinitesimal.

Quickly, the stage setting changed, the dancers came out, the songs were unleashed at a rapid pace. I was amazed by this new line up of singers (again), couldn't really come to terms with how beautifully they carried themselves and performed, not compromising at any time on the vocals. It was style. It was panache, clubbed with dedication and practice, that was evident. Maybe it was the taskmaster too. :)

Yayire saw a complete makeover. So did Tanha tanha. Man mohini was fused with Tu muskura. Chukku bukku raile was hard rock and was fused with Petti rap. Anjaana was sung by the man himself, so were half a dozen other songs, such as Rehna tu, Dil se, Tere bina, Meherbaan, Yeh jo des hai tera, Gurus of Peace, etc.

I realised (again) how pure Javed Ali's voice is. Just the line 'tum se kyaa maangu main, tum khud hi samajh lo' from Arziyaan was enough to make me watery eyed. The other line up consisted of Shweta Pandit, Harshdeep Kaur, Neeti Mohan, Vijayprakash, Suresh Peters, Remo Fernandes, Sivamani and a bunch of super talented, amazing singers and musicians, apologies for not knowing their names.

I reiterate, I don't think there can be any composer who can make songs like Mukkala and Khwaja mere khwaja. Like Pappu can't dance saala and Uyire uyire. Like Vande mataram and Kismat se tum. Like Thirakaatha and Bombay theme. Like Oruvan oruvan and Piya haji ali. This, is all possible with total submission to the music, to the divine entity and faith, in work. Success not reaching the head is also what which can make things happen. When I listen to Rahman's songs, more than his voice, his composition, his innovative ideas, his choice of instruments or singers, which would take weeks to settle in, its the immense dedication that I can listen to. Its the submissiveness that I can listen to. 

Such a great person. Such talent. Didn't hurt me when it poured in Bangalore a few years back, almost canceling the concert. Didn't hurt me when a few people said, 'How come Rahman doesn't sing in his concerts? It was such a waste of money, Rahman's concert and only other people sing!'. Didn't hurt me when people commented in Houston that Rahman should not perform SOUTH INDIAN songs. Likewise, it doesn't hurt me when a composer of the stature of Ismail Durbar, a great composer himself, who dared to create his own style, makes a statement saying the Academy awards were bought. Like I said, I'm in the phase where in everything else apart from the man, his music and his voice seems just infinitesimal. 

Hats off to you, Rahman Sir, for your music, for your perspective toward life. May you perform many more times, in Bangalore and elsewhere; may you win more accolades; may you come out with great albums that would set benchmarks for years to come.

Jai Ho!