The day I witnessed Rahmans MAGIC!!

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away”.

            Sometimes, some things leave an everlasting impression on you. Usually, things eventually fade away after few days, but such everlasting things, are kept intact. You’ll feel as if its still happening right in front of you. We cling on to them, never wanting to let them go. I could never sit straight up for two hours. Heck, forget two hours, ask me to sit unmoved for an hour, I wouldn’t do it. But, I lost track of time that day, that mesmerizing day, which I can never forget in my life. In a way, it was a short and sweet one, but, I mean come on, when your favorite person, musician per se, is performing who wants a short and sweet one, I never wanted it to end. We all were, about a thousand-ish fans at the Paramount theatre, Huntington, NY left wanting more. But, in his words, how can he perform 600 songs of his. Hence, he wants us to keep coming back to his concerts, One of the many witty comments from Rahman, that day.

            AR Rahman, who entered, to a huge roar from the crowd, the stage in a White Blazer and Black trousers, was right infront of me, us crazy fans. It was indeed a dream come true to me. Humble, down-to-earth, soft spoken, passionate are some of the adjectives to describe him. It actually took me a while to sink in about what was going to happen then. Me and my friend Sowji couldn't believe that we were going to watch him sing all our favorite numbers. Wondering, what his first song would be in his vocals, starts off slowly, with arguably one of his best compositions Dil Se song from the same movie. Could we ask for a better song than that to start off? I don’t really think so. And the proceedings did live up to the standards set by him. Although, I was expecting few more singers to support him, but it was Hari Charan and Jonita Gandhi who took the mic for the major chunk of the evening. Jonita did really exceed my expectations, and Hari charan did a wonderful job with Tamil songs. His performance was commendable on Ennodu nee irindhaai from the movie I.

Clicked immediately after taking stage/seat

            Jonita provided her brilliant vocals, to the hands down classic of Rahman, Choti si asha/Chinni chinni aasa from the movie Roja. Its been more than couple of decades, it has been re-created so many times, yet it continues to shine brighter every single time it’s been performed. Saathiya, Pookkale Satru (I movie), Taal Se Taal mila, Tera Bina from Guru, O Humdum, Nadaan parindey, Chaiyya Chaiyya and Jai Ho (both upon audience demand) are some of the notable performances of the evening. And how can I forget, If I rise, Warriors of heaven and earth and Jazz track Tu bole from Jaane Tu.. ya Jaane na!

            However, the most notable part of the evening to me, is Rahman himself again. As he was juggling back and forth between playing his Piano and lending his vocals to where ever its necessary or may be he wanted to, was his passion for the music. You can say when a person actually lends something with all his heart or he’s just doing for the heck of it. Although, they have rehearsed it many times and he performed the same tunes at various concerts, he still has the same Enthusiasm. Every single time he lent his vocals that evening, I could feel the magic. So compassionate, so driven, so divine, I was completely swept away by his sheer dedication. We all were spellbound. Rahman would simply go into his own trance state of mind while singing the beautiful numbers, for instance, Tere Bina (Guru) or the high pitch lyrics of “Ishq Bina kya jeena yaaron”. Not just his music, but he was quite astonishingly witty with his sense of humor. A side of Rahman that i've never seen it coming. Asking the crowd to calm down more so shushing them, so that they can hear, or rather enjoy the performance, or how he whispered “Its coming” to the audience as they repeatedly asked to perform “Jai Ho” or at the end, he just broke everyone’s hearts saying they were about to wrap up the show, the crowd went almost to “they weren’t existing” silence and he retorted back saying “ofcourse, we still have couple of songs to perform”.

Rahman singing Nadaan Parindey

Rahman singing Tere bina

            The deadly medley of Nadaan parindey, Mental Manadhil, Khalifa and Jai Ho to wrap up the show was a perfect way to end the concert.

            I would like to reuse the line I started this post with. I actually found it in a souvenir store during my holiday to Ocean city over the Memorial day weekend. The minute I read it, it reminded me of the show. Ofcourse, everything reminds me of the Rahman’s music and the concert I’ve attended. Yes, that really made me happy. I felt I haven’t been that happy in a long time. As a matter of fact, the thing that comes close to this moment was when I visited Niagara falls back in August 2012, with my best friends. It was on the Maid of the Mist ride. The ride may not seem a big deal to the persons reading this now, but it was an out of the world experience back then.

May 21st, Thursday, 2015 was even more a better day, for obvious reasons right? Somethings, actually make you happy. So happy, that your heart fills up with all of it. Everything that’s happening with you fades away.

            Nevertheless, small moments as such, bring tons of happiness. That concert, that day gave me a whole new perception to Rahman’s music. I have been an ardent follower of his work and an admirer too, more than a fan, but now, his music, his love for the music, more importantly, his love towards what he is doing, actually tells me something. It is inspiring, motivating and his music is soothing. I am so blessed to have all of this. I would like to quote and may be when someone asks me, what is the one thing you’d say when you meet Rahman in person? I’d just say this, “Happiness to me was watching him perform in that concert hall that day, and listening his music any given day!”

            May be this sounds like Rahman overdose to a normal person, but I’m not inflicting my opinion on any one. Well, I can say this, look beneath and start perceiving his music, all you can see is pure magic and love!

Ending on a high note,

Stay Healthy. Keep Smiling. Just breathe. And and, do listen to Rahman! J

Yours
Vasu.