An Electrifying Evening....

[The longest post of mine, so far. I am glad that I am making it for a subject of my interest as well as of most of your interest. Hope you will enjoy as if you were in the show. Sorry for the delay.. I hope I have done my best to prove your wait a worthy one.. :-) :-)]

[As promised I am posting within the stipulated 24 hours... Feel free to double click the picture to have a better feel of the event]

The evening we were awaiting for a long time had finally arrived... on 24th Sep, Saturday. Eventhough, we had attended a couple of shows in the last one year (of Vidyasagar and Bharadwaj), we knew AR.Rahman is the man who could make the difference. And yes it was...

The sponsorship of Mediacorp TV is prestigious one which normally goes to some big international pop stars - for the hype and infrastructure provided by them. Everything was provided for ARR's show as well. Their presence was felt throughout, with the lightings and the stage settings in a fantastic way.

Since, we were prompted from the beginning of the day (in the local radio FM 96.8) that the show will start exactly by 6:30 PM, we reached our seats exactly by time. However, due to some reason or the other, it got delayed and finally two local TV presenters Dharshana & Ilamaran appeared. They could have stopped their presentation in few minutes.. But they didn't.

Since it was officially sponsored by Mediacorp TV, Ilamaran started introducing 12 finalists of the local TV show 'Vasantham Star'. Right or wrong, the crowd got irritated since they didn't want to wait further to see ARR. The self-introduction of those finalists which started with 2 minutes per person, ended up with introduction of the last 4 person in 2 seconds.. Ilamaran was under so much pressure to wrap it up quickly, eventhough he did it very nicely.

Then we got to see that grand entry... of the genius in front of the crowd of 9000 people over there. Such a humble, smiling face.. started singing with a bang announcing the arrival. The first one was from 'Yuva' ('Fanaa' if I am not wrong) and immediately the environment got electrifying. The way it was sung and delivered by that Chubby face was amazing.

When Sadhana Sargam appeared next and started the intial humming for 'Telephone Mani..' of 'Indian' ('Hindustani'), people started looking for the male counterpart.. There, he entered from the front entrance of the hall. Hariharan, with the security guards around him and throwing some beach balls among the audiences (like our politicians do), by showing off his dancing abilities. They started mixing the tamil version and hindi version to satisfy the music lovers of both the songs.

Now the treat for the youth.. Entered Karthik with one of the electrifying song 'Oh Humdum Suniyo Re..' (Saathiya) - the hindi version of 'Engengum Punnagai..' (Alai Payuthe). Everytime he appears in Singapore, the crowd is getting more crazier about him. Till the start of the day, we were not sure if he is going to come or not, since we didn't listen to the local Radio. We were so glad that he was there at last.

Next, the entry of a person unknown to me.. he was Kailash Kher. Since I used to always listen the tamil versions of ARR I had not noticed the Hindi singers. K.Kher made it notably different with his 'Mangal..' song from 'The Rising'. His dresses were also of unique combination thru out the show. With a embroidered dhoti and different colors of tops. The high pitch of his voice was too good while delivering certain songs.

Another unknown song.. entered Udit Narayan and Madhushree with 'Hum hain is pal yahan' from 'Kisna'. Since I had not listened to it earlier, it didn't strike me that much. I should have listened to it couple of times earlier, to realise the strengths of this song.

Eventhough I missed SP.B's presence (for 'Kathal Rojave...' of 'Roja'), Hariharan filled the vaccum beautifully by mixing the tamil version and the hindi 'Roja Jaane Maan...' in a romantic way. Another beautiful melody followed it - 'Chupke se...' from 'Saathiya' by Sadhana Sargam. It was beautifully blended with the tamil version 'Snehidhiyee..' (Alai Payuthae') in between.

We got the variety again, from the Bosnian singer Ms.Alma with an English number from 'Warriors of Heaven and Earth', the chinese movie for which ARR had composed the music. The movie's war sequences started popping up in the background screen, showing off the big production value of that movie.Karthik followed it with 'Enakoru Girlfriend vendumada...' from 'Boys'. As usual I was able to see the crowd dancing with him.

The missing piece was found then. The show was complete with 'Chinnakuyil' entering the stage.. yes, Chitra entered with her 'Kannaalane...' (Bombay) mixed with some parts of the hindi version 'Kehna Hi Kya..'. Whatever be the language, her soothing voice took us to some level. Great one.. indeed.

Once again the romantic pair entered asking for a favour from the moon.. Hariharan and Sadhana Sargam, calling 'Vennilave.. Vennilave..'(Minsara Kanavu) blended with 'Chanda re..'(Sapne). And two young dancers started appearing behind ARR with nicely choreographed movements. The dance aptly suited the mood of the song.

'Kabhi Neem Neem...' (Yuva) was the next one from Madhushreee. As was the trend of the evening, she mixed it with 'Sandaikozhi kozhi..' (Ayutha Ezuthu) and delivered it beautifully, with some dance movements too.. Hariharan followed suit with another meoldy from 'Alai Payuthae' which was duly supported by lightings and the illuminated screen behind. And the song was 'Pachchai nirame.. Pachchai nirame..'

Another excellent number followed in 'Taal se Taal..' sung by Madhushree and Udit Narayan. She replaced Alka Yagnik (the original singer) beautifully with her voice. There was also a dancer delivering some classical dance movements aptly for the song, behind ARR and after somtime on the main stage itself.

At that time we got what we wanted.. ARR prepraed himself to join Blazee, who started coming from the main entrance of the hall. And it was the electrifying number of the show 'Humma Humma..' of 'Bombay' (hindi version), sung by both of them. There was no limit for the crowd's joy.

A lot of audience started dancing, waving the hands and the song ended with a style different to ARR. He stepped down the stage and started walking on the path in front of the stage till the middle of the hall. Fully guarded with securities... eventhough he was still humming 'Humma humma...'. My wife who was just standing nearer to him, when he passed us, exclaimed that he was looking too young and so chubby. I didn't mind... afterall he is the genius who deserves it.

And then came the much awaited break - which was completely given to the acclaimed percussionist Sivamani. Oh... the way he played with his drums and instruments was so excellent that his other western counterparts (Mr.Levon with Guitar and Mr.Attila with Keyboard) were mesmerised completely along with the audience.

A Surprise visitor was also there.. he was Abdul Hameed (of the yester year 'Lalitha'vin 'pattukku pattu') even though the purpose was to greet ARR with a memonto, shawl and a garland by the local sponsors GMT Jewellers. The Genius accepted all these things in a humble way and immediately brushed them aside.

Now I am giving you some break, since we have crossed only half...

Let me change the gear now..

ARR and Blazee restarted the session after the break with their number, composed specifically for UN's efforts for the poverty struck world. The audience were so mesmerised that I observed so many colorful butterflies flying everywhere.. I mean the audience waving their hands with their lighted up mobile phones.. everywhere those lightening butterflies were flying.

When ARR started singing 'Dil Se Re..' I started noticing his sister Rehena in the Chorus. she aptly supported him with her voice in that song. This number was followed by another English number from the Bosnian Ms.Alma which was blended with 'Ishq Bena Kya..'(Taal) by ARR and Madhushree.

Then there was an excellent piece from the team of Hariharan, Sadhana and Chitra, which he claimed as 'Unplugged'. During this session, they combined certain melody numbers beautifully with few variations. All the songs which were selected for this piece were excellent ones from ARR's collections.. They were 'Nila Kaikiradhu..' (Indira), 'Enge enathu Kavidhai...' (Kandukondein KK), 'Uyirae.. uyirae..'(Bombay) and 'Udhaya.. Udhaya..' (Udhaya).

Follwed them were 'Thee Thee Thithikkum thee..' (Thiruda Thiruda) by Sadhana Sargam, 'Jiya Jale Jaan jale...'(Dil se) by Chitra, 'Ale Ale..' (Boys) by Karthik & ARR's sister Irshath, 'Hai Rama Kya Hua..' (Rangeela) by Hariharan & Madhushree and 'Nachu Re...Nachu Re...' by Kailash Kher & ARR. I don't know the movie of the last number, eventhough I realised that it was the hindi version of 'Thaniye Thannanth Thaniye...' from 'Rhythm' sung by Shankar Mahadevan. Hariharan & Madhushree were the next with all sorts of dance movements for 'Varugiraai..' of 'Ah AAh'.

Till that moment, I was struggling with the batteries of my Digicam that I missed couple of nice pics. Then I decided that I shouldn't wait anymore. Immediately I ran out and bought the required batteries, eventhough they were expensive there... This enabled me to cover the balance numbers to my satisfaction.

Another fast one came out from the team of karthik and Blazee - for 'Sa Ri Ga me..' of 'Boys'. This was another song with an electrifying feel which ended up with a colorful bang from the flower pot lightings... chk out the next picture...



ARR came down again from his seat for the next number 'Mustafa.. Mustafa..' with Naresh.. another good one.

Again the hall got electrified with the next one from his sister Rehena and Kailash kher. The song was nothing but the 'Chayya Chayya..' of 'Dil Se'. You cannot judge based on the look and actions. Looked like a quiet lady, the song & her matching high pitched voice with K.K's brought the stadium down with the clappings and dances. ARR too joined them finally.. with his matching voice.




As expected, he finished the concert with the 'Vandhe Madharam..' number and made the people to move in a different way. Most of the audience started standing to chant the 'Vandhe madharam..' words to fulfill the purpose of the song. The unity in diversity. I could feel it with his mixture of techinicians & Singers (of different countries) and the audience who were present including lot of chinese... It was amazing. The following were some of the pictures taken during that last piece.

Alma - Sadhana Sargam - Chitra - Madhushree - Karthik - Kailash Kher
Chitra-Madhushree-Kailash Kher-Karthik-Udit
Alma wondering the way the genius was singing, with Chitra & Madhushree
Karthik - Udit Narayan - Hariharan, with the full attention to the song
Blazee - Sivamani













When the show ended 4 hours after the continuous thunder & lightening, I didn't have the mood to leave the place. I was just wondering why these concerts are always conducted for less no. of hours..

I still missed some of my favourites like

'Anbe Anbe..' and 'Poovukkul olinthrikkum...' from 'Jeans' (surprisingly none from this movie)
'Aararai kodi..' from 'Ah Aah' (the latest hit sung by ARR himself)
'Thirakkatha kattukulee...' and 'kaathal nayagara..' from 'En Swasa Katre'
'Chinna Chinna Aasaai...' from 'Roja'
'katre en Vaasal vandhai...' from 'Rhythm'

However, the notable and appreciable portion of this show was that there were no interruptions by the presenters or comedians, like it happened in the previus shows. ARR himself didn't have time to deliver all his hits, as I mentioned above. How can he allow those interruptions? We were so glad that the show was fully packed with songs, songs and songs.........

By the end of the night, when we came back home my wife made some remarks that I had changed a lot, compared to the previous shows... in terms of my involvement in the shows. I just smiled at her... Hey.. that was the power of the magical music from this Genius.

Note:
1) Some of my fellow bloggers have beaten me already in bringing up their posts in their blogs... earlier this day. Here are their posts ----> Sayesha & Vidya. Enjoy them as well...

2) Due to some Blogger.com errors, it took 4 hours for me to upload these pictures. Due to the delay, I even dropped some more pictures. Whatever it is, by end of the night I was satisfied with those which got loaded successfully.

Some more pictures here.. enjoy

194th post