Javed Ali was not in the country... On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 3:49 PM, Jahanzeb Farooq <jahanzebti...@yahoo.com>wrote:
> > > sounds great though it seems like the last one, this one too lacked > presence of known singers. Raja Hassaan singing four recent hits Masakali, > Khwaja, Arziyaan and Guzarish is a pity. Could not they have roped in Javed > Ali or Mohit? > > - > Jahanzeb > > --- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com <arrahmanfans%40yahoogroups.com>, > Bivin Chandra <bivinchan...@...> wrote: > > > > PUNE: There was a buzz in the air. Thousands of Puneites were eagerly > waiting for the Mozart of Madras' and his magical melodies. And, he did not > disappoint. > > > > The Balewadi sports complex resounded with the Rahman magic leaving his > fans spellbound and asking for more as The Times of India Jai Ho concert > unfolded in the balmy Sunday evening. > > > > The venue was crowded well before the show started. And then the wait > began, that of the maestro and his posse of musicians. > > > > Moments before Rahman got onto the stage, radio jockeys of Radio Mirchi, > RJ Shrikant and RJ Aditi played host and welcomed the crowd. The crowd > complied when they were asked to scream Jai Ho' at the top of their voices > but their loudest cheer was reserved for Rahman as he came on to the stage > in a lift that came up from the middle of the stage. Clad in a white > sherwani, Rahman started off the show with a track from Slumdog Millionaire' > and followed it up with a Tamil track Machan Machan'. > > > > But it was his talk before the track that left the audience charmed. > "Namaskar, salaam and satsriakaal! A dream I had since a long time has > finally come true today, and I'm here in Pune. We are going to have fun > today with some good songs, some bad and some mistakes," he said with a > laugh. > > > > The next track, one of his latest releases the title song of Delhi-6' had > the crowd up on their feet with all singing along with Rahman's troupe of > singers. "The concert began with a prayer for peace which was fitting since > Rahman's music symbolises light, beauty and peace for all those who hear it. > His songs cut across languages and countries, only to bring everyone > together," said an excited Jill Sheldekar, a corporate trainer. > > > > Popular singers Hariharan and Sadhana Sargam's entry on the stage caught > everyone by surprise as they immediately launched into the song Roja > Janeman' from Roja' to the delight of everyone, as the crowd hummed along. > > > > Singer Raja Hassan belted out the popular Masakalli' from Delhi 6' and > Guzarish' from Ghajini' and he was accompanied well by a female singer from > Rahman's troupe. > > > > But while Masakalli' had the crowd whistling along, it was Rahman's Dil > Se,' the title track from the film by the same name that had the entire > crowd up and jumping on their feet. From his entry in a lift that looked > like it was on fire, to his voice that reached a high few could dream of, > Rahman did it all and elicited the loudest cheers of the evening. "I do not > normally sing this song in shows, but I got too many e-mails asking for this > particular song," he said. > > > > In between songs, Rahman also found time to converse with the audience, > as he left the stage with the intention of interviewing' a few people. "I > always get asked Why' and What,' etc, so now, I'm going to do the same," he > said, as everyone started jumping up and down to catch his attention. He > finally spoke to a couple of people and then dedicated his next song Jiya Se > Jiya' to them. > > > > "We are enjoying every bit of the show. His entry was superb and so is > the event. Also, the police is doing a great job," said Amit Besetty, who > was there with his group of friends. > > > > It was not all music, and even the dancers in the troupe put up a > splendid show. What was particularly eye-catching was a dance jugalbandi in > martial arts style by two dancers. The other songs performed during the > pulsating evening included Ringa Ringa' from Slumdog Millionaire' and Genda > Phool' from Delhi-6'. > > > > Next up was the foursome of Rahman, Hariharan, Roopkumar Rathod and > Rashid Ali as Rahman played the piano with the others singing some beautiful > numbers. While Hariharan sang the soulful Tu Hi Re', Roopkumar Rathod > followed with Khamosh Raat' and Rashid Ali with Kahin Toh'. But, it was the > patriotic Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna' from The Legend of Bhagat Singh' and Bharat > Humko Jaan Se Pyara' from Roja' that stole the heart of the audience. "These > are two of my favourite songs," Rahman told the audience. > > > > "We think he is fantastic and being here is indeed a privilege. He's God' > and we have no words to express how we feel," said friends Sujay Kulkarni > and Manmohi Dake. > > > > The evening drew to a close with the hits Kabhi Kabhi Aditi' (Jaane Tu Ya > Jaane Na) Chupke Se' (Saathiya), Rehna Tu' (Delhi-6) and Mayya Mayya' > (Guru).. > > > > Later, the Nightingale of India' Lata Mangeshkar went to the stage and > congratulated Rahman on his winning the Oscars. Lata, who spoke in Marathi, > told the audience "Tyana Marathi samajat nahi (he does not understand > Marathi), but Rahman sprang a surprise by saying, "But, I do!" > > > > She also presented him a memento. City mayor Rajlaxmi Bhosale presented a > shawl to Rahman as city MP Suresh Kalmadi also came on stage. > > > > After that Benny Dayal and Neeti Mohan came on stage to sing Kaise Mujhe' > from Ghajini.' Then it was again Rahman, along with Raja Hassan who > presented two sufi songs Khwaja Mere Khwaja' from Jodhaa Akbar' and > Arziyaan' from Delhi 6.' > > > > Rahman brought the audience on the feet when he came down the stage and > mingled in the audience while singing Hamma Hamma' from Bombay.' He egged on > the audience to sing along and his fans responded wholeheartedly. > > > > As the show came to an end, Rahman sang Jai Ho' and Vande Mataram' as the > stage bathed in tri-colour and the sky was lit with fireworks. > > > > "I thank you for all the love. I had a great time and I hope to see you > all next time," said Rahman as he signed off. > > > http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pune/There-was-Rahman-magic-in-the-air/articleshow/4601418.cms > > > > > -- regards, Vithur
