Raja Hasan performs with Maestro A.R.Rahman

A.R.RAHMAN LIVE IN CALICUT - The concert experience

May 5, 2009

The whole of Calicut was filled with hoardings of "JAI HO". It was the talk of the town. The media was both happy and sad. Happy that they could get everyone to read their news/articles featuring Rahman in depth. Sad that they were not allowed to shoot anything happening inside the stadium. By 5 P.M the stadium was almost full and people were waiting eagerly. A bunch of fanatics, including me, were in the stands singing out Rahman songs and gathering quite a bit of attention from the local crowd as well.

The show started with DJ Medley playing shano shano and sayonara warming up the crowd to chant a few Jai Hos. And in a minutes time the sitar would start playing mausam and escape. It was exciting as well as disappointing. The sound system to be specific was disappointing. It was like the sound system was designed for a local "Ganamela". But nevertheless, the show was on! The crowd was on their feet. I am sure the Appu Kuttan nairs of the crowd clad in their dhotis did not understand what was being played. But even they coming in to see Boss, speaks the volume of love and admiration that a billion people have for Rahman.

Before even the Mausam & escape ended, the track for O saya was on. And there he was – the man of the moment. No stylish entries, no fireworks in the background. Just walking into the stage singing O Saya. The noise in the stadium was deafening. O saya was lost amongst the cheers and screams. Rahman went on to sing Athiradi along with Sayonara. It was clear that he was getting warmed up and was concerned about the sound system. After the song, Rahman addressed the crowd. Again, not much could be heard. The next song was meant to excite the local public and it did. Padakali Chandi from the mallu movie Yodha. Not many would know that it is a Rahman score - Benny dayal and George Peter not only singing but enacting a bit of the song as well. The song indeed is a masterpiece by Rahman.

Sadna Sargam followed with Tu Muskura. The tempo of the song was just perfect. Soothing, I should say. And towards the middle she would switch to the beginning aalap of Roja Janeman. Enter hariharan, who took the stage to a higher level. Hariharan is one of the best on stage performers India has and he did not disappoint this time either. He would have sung the song a zillion times and each time it creates magic. Raja Hasan of the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa fame was next with Massakali. He did a decent job. Still the problems with the sound persisted. Rahman's Jiya se jiya rocked. It was a visual treat too. I would have had all the singers coming in at the end and giving him a Free Hug😊

Blaaze's Style got the crowd dancing and so did Liquid dance which was tracked. In fact most of the songs were tracked and sung like in a Karaoke. May be Rahman should conduct a full fledged instrumental concert. Javed ali, the new guy in the block sang Guzarish. But the best of the concert was around the corner. Chitra started with Netru illada matram and she couldn't have sounded more perfect. And as she moved on to Malargale along with Naveen's flute and Hariharan's voice - it felt like I am in heaven! Raashid Ali's with Kabhi Kabhi aditi was cool. Rahman continued with Rehna Tu. The chorus could hardly be heard in this song. The sound was that bad.

Neeti Mohan is born to be a star. The way she performed Taal se Taal and Ringa ringa was magical. The stadium was filled with drool by the time she ended the track. Kaala Bandhar, Gansta Blues and New were performed as a medley by Benny, Blaaze and Tanvi. Kaala Bandhar could have been performed better or dropped! And then the next medley with Rahman leading it, comprised of Azeem-O-Shaan, Rukmani Chorus and Veera Pandi Kottayile. Suzanne stunned the crowd with the range of her voice in dreams on fire./Latika's theme.

There are moments which you would cherish all your life. And one of them, for me, was the qawali performed by AR, Javed Ali and Raja Hasan. It was Khwaja mere and Ariziyan back to back. I really can't find words to describe how I felt at that moment.

Oru cheriya idavela – A short break! Not in the review, but in the show. It tested everyone's patience in the stadium. The charity would have had more meaning if they just did it without showing it off.

The sound got better after the break. Chitra resumed the concert with a Malayalam song, manasu manasinte, composed by R.K.Shekar(Rahman's father) and followed it up with Malayalam version of Kannalane! I really wish the language barrier in music goes away, at least in Rahman concerts, so that he does not have to perform specific songs for the local crowd, bending his original scores. Jiya Jale made a good visual with the lights and fires flying around. Sadna joined Hariharan for Aye hairetein Aashiqui with hariharan trying to make the crowd sing a bit of aalaps as well. The pair then sand Vaaji Vaaji

Kabuli entered the stage from a crane while playing his electric guitar. It was the build up for Mustafa Mustafa. And the crowd was looking stunning with everyone waving their mobile phones and singing along. Rahman ended it up with a bit of Dhakka Laga Bukha which I thought was quite unnecessary. It was dancing time for the crowd as Benny and co started Pappu can't dance saala and Suzanne followed with Aye Bachu. She was simply awesome. I never have loved the song so much as I did on that day. It felt like the climax was around the corner with tempo going up. Rahman's Urvasi and Benny/Blaaze's Taxi Taxi got the crowd going crazy. Hariharan entered the stage and did some alaap's making the crowd wonder what is up next. The way hariharan blended the alaap into the beginning of Humma Humma was terrific.

After the song, Rahman stopped before the next track. He made the crowd sing Ooo oo in various styles before he made them scream JAI HO. Jai ho it was and all the singers joined Rahman on stage with Tanvi leading the song along with AR. The crowd had their money worth. And Rahman ended it with Vandemataram. Again only a piece of it was played which was bemusing. But then Boss is always right!

Rahman is no more just a music composer. He is a wave that is sweeping across the world. And for the bunch of people whom I sat with, music is our religion and Rahman, the almighty. The concert had it's glitches – like the poor sounds, the lack of star singers. Not to take away anything from the newbies who did exceedingly well. But it would have been nice to listen to the likes of SPB & Shankar mahadevan. However, I have no complaints. I had a whale of a time. Watch out for the Jai Ho tour coming to your part of the world soon, if you want to experience the same.