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It was an event that would take a Roger Waters and a Bangalore to beat. The never-will-fade prima donna of Indian music is one artist whose concert Dominique Francon (of The Fountainhead) would love reviewing, as it wouldn't even be necessary to see the show to write about it. Her presence obviates any need to get to an opinion. It's as much a thing of common knowledge as is the fact that roses are red and violets are violet, NOT blue.
Organized by the Grandslaam group and sponsored by Hero Honda, the horrendously advertised live concert by the legendary Lata Mangeshkar in aid of a charity hospital rolled through town. Against the backdrop of a towering Charminar cutout and accompanied by some of the biggest names in business, music and otherwise, each eager to fit his/her foot in, Lata captivated the hearts of a sea of Hyderabadis.
The lady seemed to have a song for every occasion and for virtually every kind of music taste, in her repertoire. Switching styles with little effort, she wafted across a naughty and racy "Mere Hathon Mein Naon Naon Chudiya Hain" to a somber and mellow "Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham" seamlessly. Udit Narayan, Roop Kumar Rathod and Usha Mangeshkar later joined her.
Udit added fizz and sparkle to the concert with funky beats of "Main Nikala O' Gaddi Lekar" and the crowds couldn't help "Gettin' Jiggy With It". He also accompanied Lata for "Dil To Paagal Hain" and "Tu Mere Saamne" (Darr) among other romantic duets. Rathod did the balancing act at the other end, doling out some soul soothing numbers like "Sandese Aate hain" and "Ae Jaate Hue Lamhon" from Border among others.
If you don't mind a fly in the ointment, it isn't really fair on your part to crib about Diya Mirza. I wonder what in the world prompted the organizers to stick her in. At best she seemed to be forcing out Hindi written in English script.
Equally annoying were the huge fluttering screens all along the width of the grounds. When I first moved in to take my seat, I was amused to see the lady next to me looking in a direction perpendicular to the stage at one of those screens. I thought she was suffering from a problem that is almost but not quite unlike akin to Roberto Benigni's predilection in Life Is Beautiful (where he claims that he can hear only of his left ear just to look at his 'Principessa' in the upper stall).
Very soon I did discover that it was the case with everyone around. Unless some resourceful guy comes up with an idea of having binocular glasses similar to 3D glasses, being at these live shows is not too much of a point. All that it boils down to is watching TV, stuck with a remote that doesn't work.
Amit Alampally
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