Serenading Pune *Font Size * -A<http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/serenading-pune/474095/#> +A <http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/serenading-pune/474095/#> Ashalini RaiPosted: Jun 10, 2009 at 0314 hrs IST Print <http://www.expressindia.com/story_print.php?storyId=474095> Email<http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/serenading-pune/474095/#> To Editor <http://www.expressindia.com/feedback.php> Post Comments<http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/serenading-pune/474095/#post> [image: Neetii Muhan] Most Read Articles<http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/serenading-pune/474095/#> Related Articles <http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/serenading-pune/474095/#> S&P may downgrade India's rating<http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/SP-may-downgrade-Indias-rating/473782/>'KKR experience was the toughest phase of my...<http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/KKR-experience-was-the-toughest-phase-of-my-life/473784/>IAF plane with 13 lost in Arunachal, crash f...<http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/IAF-plane-with-13-lost-in-Arunachal-crash-feared/473871/>Sulking Jena meets PM; may assume office on ...<http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Sulking-Jena-meets-PM-may-assume-office-on-Wed/473800/>Aamir Khan is a self confessed cry baby<http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Aamir-Khan-is-a-self-confessed-cry-baby/473771/>Dhoni vs media: Captain cool loses it at pre...<http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Dhoni-vs-media-Captain-cool-loses-it-at-press-meet/473789/>
***Neetii Muhan, part of A R Rahman’s troupe and member of the band Aasma, wowed Pune audiences with her song and dance routine at the concert held recently in the city* In 2003, when Neetii Muhan, a philosophy graduate from Miranda House, Delhi auditioned to be part of the band Aasma, she had to stand in line from 5.30 am onwards and compete with more than 10,000 contestants, before being selected. Six years later, though, when she was in town as part of A R Rahman’s troupe for his first concert after the Oscar win, life seemed to have come full circle for Muhan. It was now the audience’s turn to wait in serpentine queues, long hours before the gates were to open, and jostle for space with a capacity crowd, to watch Rahman and his eclectic troupe perform at the Balewadi Stadium. At the concert, Muhan sang the sensuous Maiyya Maiyya from Guru and dazzled the audience with her talent and easy grace. Not a famous name, she nevertheless left an impression on the gathering, many among whom were eager to find out more about this effervescent artiste. “When I first met Rahman Sir, I was rendered speechless. He’s such a famous person and yet, he’s very humble and has his feet firmly planted on the ground,” says 26-year-old Muhan. “While auditioning for Rahman Sir’s troupe, I was very nervous. But he instantly put me at ease. He’s the kind of person who’ll come up to you and say hello, without waiting for you to wish him first. There’s a very positive spiritual aura around him, which makes people in his company feel totally relaxed and calm,” she adds. Muhan, who’s the eldest of four daughters of a chartered accountant father and a homemaker mother, says that as part of the maestro’s troupe, she has performed in over 16 concerts across the world, including the US and Dubai. “After selecting me for his troupe in 2007, Rahman Sir told me I possess the right blend of Indian and Western influences. They already had singers such as Sadhana Sargam and Hariharan in the troupe. So, by selecting me, they were looking at appealing directly to the youth and thus, engaging all age groups in the performance,” adds the vivacious performer, whose zodiac sign is Scorpio. Having performed all over the country, in cities such as Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Calcutta, Calicut and of course, Pune, Muhan says one of the high points for her was when the troupe performed 10 concerts in one single month in the US. “I’ve always loved to be on stage. At one point in time, I was not sure what should I take up -- singing, dancing or acting. Performing on stage, though, gives me an opportunity to do all three,” she says. “One of the professional peaks in my life was when Aasma opened Bryan Adams’ concerts in Delhi and Bangalore. The recent concert in Pune too, was fantastic. In terms of light and sound effects, this was one concert which was really rocking,” she adds. http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/serenading-pune/474095/ -- regards, Vithur
