A.R.Rahman Live in Concert

It was a good weekend nearing by and we guys were planning for a big party and a music show. One of my friend was flying to US and the next day we had to go to Mahabalipuram to watch the legend A.R.Rahman’s concert organized by MARG Foundation. As usual we went to the airport on Saturday night and had good fun.

The time was 2.30 in the morning and I urged my friends to start soon as I had office on Sunday. Back home, few watching some program, browsing and I went to my bed weary…. A disturbing sound woke up the next day and I was shouting at my friend asking him for the time. He said it’s half an hour for 1pm. Oh  …  my gosh… office… manager… 

Was blank for few minutes, called my manger and told him that I’m on off and then went back to sleep. My friends were getting ready for the show, and of course I was the last one. As per our plan we were supposed to start to the destination by 2 PM, as it was 45 Kms from Chennai and the tickets for the show had mentioned that we have to be there before 6.30 PM else we cant get inside the show. 

By the time we started it was 4 PM and slowly we traveled across Adyar to pick up one of my friend. As we reached the place, suddenly one of them asked me where are the tickets? Err..Err…sorry guys I forgot, left them in home was my reply…. panic again. Every one got irritated, few started shouting at me. One of my friend’s mom and her cousin sister had come from Chidambaram and they were not able to do anything other than keeping mum. Then we called upon one of our friend from the room, got the tickets and started towards Mahabalipuram. By the time we neared Mahabalipuram, it was 6.15. We were not able to see any hoarding, lightings nor the sound of music. 

One of them in car dialed my other friends who started earlier to confirm the place and gosh……. It was another 45 kms from Mahabalipuram. What to do? We could have skipped it but we were great fans of ARR, moreover we had crossed half the way.  

We went, crossed many cars, buses, roads, hectic traffic at one place, no way to move around and finally reached the place and it was nearly 7.30 PM. It was very near to Pondicherry. As we reached we could hear a few songs….. We were 16 of us who went for the show and half of them were little earlier before us. We missed them and didn’t have time to look for them as the show had started. It was a huge gathering; thank god there were no showers. 

We had booked the 500 rupees ticket and when we went to that area there were a few thousand people occupied, since we were late we had no other option other than standing. We stood for some time and one of my friend said we can go to the 3000 Rs stand which is free and we had a few chairs also. Then slowly we all 16 gathered together. 

By the time the show was picking up and all were on the edge of the seat, a few dancing, shouting etc.. suddenly it stopped. The stage was covered with a few priests, father and a Muslim man, all were praying and were busy with their slogans. The owner of MARG, followed by the managers and the organizers occupied the rest of the stage. 

Each of them started marketing about MARG, how it started, what they do etc etc. When he was half way through, one fourth of the crowd dispersed followed by half of our group. They didn’t like the event and there was nothing till then. We didn’t’ bother to go as we wanted to watch the full event as we came to know that there are a few more performances from ARR.                                                          

After a few minutes everything was over and then the show started with AR Rehman giving a cheque of 1 crore rupees to Sakthi foundation which Marg had sponsored. Once that was over Fun began.It started with Blaaze and Benny coming up with Taxi Taxi from Chakkarakati, one of ARR’s youth song. Then it was time for Chitra to give us a couple of melodies. Followed by ARR with some classical Hindi songs along with Hariharan. 

Back to beat, for a few mins , yeah the whole crowd enjoyed to the core, it was none other than Sivamani alias Drums Mani with his extraordinary performance. Our hero ARR came out with the everloving Mustafa Mustafa and Antha Arabic Kadal Oram(Bombay), all the crowd were on their toes… from kids to grandma’s , all dancing with candles , shouting,etc. Followed by the two was ARR’s favourite religious song from Jodha Akbar…As the time went we thought the show concluded when he began to sing Jai Ho!. But with a big applause from the crowd he finished with Vande Martam! By 10.45 the show was over, we all, who came late to the show, just enjoyed to the core.                                                                                                                                                                                                    

The show was a cool, good marketing event by MARG, who are coming up with some apartments ,flats etc over there . A good promotional event for music lovers but for the rest, they were unhappy as they had to travel such a long distance.

Came late night to Chennai, had our dinner in one of the 24hours restaurant, … back home, Monday morning ,work, office…..huh…. what a life…:-(