NOSTALGIA: I just stumbled upon this, which I wrote in Nov '00!!

"Lux-Zee Cine Awards”, “India 2000 - Millennium Celebration”, “Filmfare Awards”, “Screen Videocon Awards” – You name it, I’ve seen them all !  Every year, on Zee TV !  I can well start a video library with their tapes.  Yet when Bollywood stars come down for a concert, I have this desperate need to go and watch their performance. 

Who have I not seen ?  From Anil Kapoor & Sridevi to Akshay Kumar & Karisma Kapoor to Amitabh & Juhi !  Shah Rukh Khan alone has had his concert for the 4^th time.  Including the controversial one on 25^th Oct …. oops I mean 5^th Nov .… no, no, no, was it 18th Nov ?  Whatever !

First it was “Deepavali with Shah Rukh & Sunjay Dutt”.  Then it became “Come celebrate Shah Rukh’s Birthday”.  The show has to go on !  Afterall they’ve painstakingly designed the show’s concept such that each of the 4 stars would represent an element of nature – AIR; WATER; EARTH; FIRE.

The concert was again postponed, this time to 18^th Nov !  They just won’t give up !  Leaving irate Shah Rukh die-hards having to live with the fact that they can’t make it for the new date !  Their sacrifices were in vain.  After all the hoo-hah about the concept behind the concert, of why Sunjay needs to be around, the concert went on without him.  Which also means that for the benefit of those sacrificed die-hards, the concert could have well be on 5^th Nov.

I just had to see the concert, the 3.30pm show for that matter.  Afterall, it’s amazing to discover where these stars will get their energy from, to do 2 shows one after another !  My naughty thoughts and wishes can’t help hoping for some mishap – maybe Shah Rukh injuring himself, knowing his stuntful ideas – so that the 7.45pm show could be cancelled much to the agony of the already exhausted audience !

But that wasn’t meant to happen.  What was meant to happen was that I just got this freaking chance to sneak out of home to go for the 3.30pm show (much to the unawareness of my orthodox father !). 

By the eve of the concert, tickets weren’t so encouraging, much to the advance reminder given by my friend, whom by the way will be dragged for company.  Ticket paid for, mind you !  After half-an-hour of painful geometry on the seating plan, I settled for two $80 tickets !

The day finally arrived and when we should have been in a cab by 3pm, we only hopped into one around 3.15pm !  Somehow telepathy told us that the show just wouldn’t begin on time.  Speaking from experience, perhaps ?!  Anyway, we reached World Trade Centre at 3.35pm but we lost our way and found ourselves tidbit-hunting in Cold Storage instead.  By 3.45pm I started feeling sinful and told my friend off “Can you please show some respect to Shah Rukh Khan, he’s waiting for us to begin his show and we’re still here !!”  She paid for whatever we already grabbed and we headed for the Harbour Pavilion.

We got ourselves settled down by 4pm and I began raving in disbelief of how good the $80 seat I chose, through painful geometry, was.  The view was quite pleasing for our eyes, which I think could be because the hall wasn’t as big as we imagined it to be (like that of Suntec City).  I started to get busy & confused trying to operate the ‘record’ button of my walkman, which I’ve never tested for recording since the day I bought it.  In the struggle, I was shocked by a sensation, which till the very moment I’m writing this, I can and maybe, will NEVER forget.  The whole hall started vibrating that I could feel myself slipping off my seat !  The minute all lights were turned off as the show was about to begin, everyone at the back just dashed to the front for better seats.  My friend could only grab my elbow in disbelief of what we’re seeing, too stunned to even move and join the crowd !  Furthermore, we decided not to move away from our seat as I was expecting a friend working in TV12 – whose name shall not be mentioned to protect her identity …. harhar – who will be searching for me at Block C; Row W; Seat No 1 as promised.

Just as I begin to overcome the shock (still strugling with my walkman but decided not to record anything yet in an attempt to preserve my cassettes for the actual show), my TV12 friend came waving.  She joined my at the empty seat on my left, we chatted, and the next moment she suggested I moved to the center of the hall for better view (not that the view from my seat was any pathetic, mind you).  Sweet of her (as sweet as she looks) to escort us down, for we weren’t used to such crimes.  Not to forget, I was there as a fugitive.  She brought us to the $200 seat – fancy paying $80 but seating at a $200 seat – right in the front and at eye-level view of the stage !  My Gawd, that was just too much to stomach, so I being the humble me (actually I wouldn’t want my face captured on TV to be in the audience) decided to move ten seats backwards and landed ourselves at the $150 seats !  I forgot to mention … I was still struggling with the ‘record’ button of my walkman !

As we moved to the back – finally settled down comfortably – the curtains were raised, so to speak.  With Namrata representing AIR.  “Finally !” – my walkman works – “Phew !”  Even in the air-conditioned hall, I was literally perspiring ! 

Next, Urmila made her entry to represent WATER  - which by the way, I feel, the artistic portrayal of her role was the best amongst the four.  Lights shone on a huge blue cloth, with dancers moving underneath the cloth to give waves !  Imagine seeing an ocean on stage.  Nice, nice ……. very nice in fact (Clap Clap) !   I thought that was pretty tastefully done. 

Then, Akshaye Khanna was introduced as EARTH.  Earth ? And Akshaye Khanna !?!?!  That’s a total misfit !  Considering, the idea was originally derived for Sunjay Dutt.  Akshaye is just too chocolatey to be Earth.  But what the heck, the show needs to go on.  On this note, I must say I’m very disappointed to find all that these stars are capable of doing, is repeating their performances in every concert.  I’ve seen Akshaye on TV performing for another show, an awards function I think, and here I am watching him doing exactly what he did then !  So much so his performance became too predictable for me – the steps, the dancers, the costume – everything is the same, except his HAIR !

Finally, Shah Rukh came and set the stage on FIRE with his charismatic charm.  Afterall, he always wants the best for himself and so he must make the LAST entry (and make it LAST in the audience’s mind throughout the show !)

The whole show went on and on and by the end of my first cassette, I’ve already gotten used to my walkman like a mother is to her newborn.  I’m sorry I have to keep reminding you of this, but it’s just so unforgettable how when everyone was ooh-ing and aah-ing, I was swearing and fuming at my walkman – flashing the bit of light I could get from my handphone to see if the LCD display screen shows ‘REC’.  Back to the show, Shah Rukh, as usual, must have an item with his audience (but claims they’ve run out of ideas !)  As an audience, I feel this item was the put-off of the show, right from the start.  The first lady he called to join him up on stage, Farhana (whom only after she opened her mouth to say her name that I realized she’s just a girl, not a lady), was so frantic she just wouldn’t stop crying, hugging and kissing Shah Rukh.  I’m sure Shah Rukh is touched by such gestures but did she has to forget that she’s a Muslim girl ?  Wasn’t she thinking of her parents ?  And I just can’t digest how an 18 year old Muslim ITE student can get to go for a $300 seat and behave like that, when I’m not even permitted to go just for the sake of sitting quietly and enjoying the show ?!  Oh well, nevermind …… I guess these kind of reactions are what Dad didn’t approve of.  I turned to my friend on my left & whispered “On behalf of all Muslims, I’m utterly ashamed right now !”  Hats off to Farhana, nevertheless, because I was so damn sure that overcome by such extreme emotions, she wouldn’t be able to dance.  But she wonderfully carried off exactly what Aishwarya did in the movie ‘Josh’ !  Not to forget, Shah Rukh did go a bit too overboard with his jokes by spitting out water drank from a bottle of mineral water, right onto Farhana’s face.  Which he did warn before he started dancing anyway.   

Talk of predictable performances earlier, Shah Rukh sure is a perpetual offender of this crime.  He would always make sure he calls a male audience up on stage, make him dance and then exclaim “He reminds me of Madhuri Dixit !”  Which Shah Rukh did again this time.  The first time I saw him doing that was during the “India 2000 – Millennium Celebration” show. The male audience he called up happened to be a dance master and the “feminine” sort (if you know what I mean !).  So Shah Rukh made him do one of Madhuri’s sensuous dance number, famously known as “Dhak Dhak”.  Back then, I thought though his remark was very hurting, it came out just naturally.  But this time, a macho fat Punjabi chap was called up on stage and made to do a bhangra and again he quipped “He reminds me of Madhuri Dixit !” and everyone started laughing.  Only then I realized his remarks were unnatural and purely scripted – for heaven’s sake, I don’t think anyone has seen Madhuri doing a bhangra ?!

By 7pm, the show was ready for the grand finale.  The video they had made on Juhi, since she couldn’t be at the show due to her pregnancy (which I’m sure after all the postponement and change of stars, no one even realized Juhi’s absence !), was also something previously done during their other concerts.  But at least the movies taken-off from & made fun of were pretty much up-to-date.

The whole show, to me, was more like a free roadshow than a Shah Rukh Khan’s concert.  Which, if you haven’t noticed, explains why I’ve not been using the term “concert” but termed it as a “show” throughout.  Firstly, it was just too short (a Bollywood concert lasting only 2 ½ hrs ?).  It can be argued that it’s shorter because there are 2 shows, but don’t forget this – No one paid half-price for it !   Everyone, whether it was the 3.30pm or the 7.45pm show, paid in full a normal concert’s price.  Secondly, the stars lack of interest were so apparent, despite their best attempts to put up a spectacular show.  Namrata, who played emcee backstage (cutting cost ?) was actually allowed to blunder on her lines, leaving the audience so confused as to whether to expect a comedy item next or a romantic item.  And not to forget, the stars were so unprofessional – when Shah Rukh was performing with the audience, for instance, stars like Namrata, the dance choreographer and the dancers were having a ball of a time coming in and out of the backstage door to watch the show !  This is the first time I’m seeing such behaviour in a concert.  If the 3.30pm show was like that, I’m left wondering how worst can the 7.45pm show be ?

The only unexpected pleasure during the show was Urmila’s warmth.  Most seemed to have a negative perception of Urmila as being aloof, arrogant and grouchy.  But we were proven wrong.  Right from the time I saw her in person at the airport, where I had earlier on bet with a colleague that she’ll be grouchy but was literally taken aback by her warmth and politeness towards her fans !  Till the end of the show where she gracefully ended her role by telling her applauding audience “I know I’m not Shah Rukh, but I’m sure I can get a little louder than this ?”.  And when the audience clapped as loud as they would for Shah Rukh, she never forgets to irritate Shah Rukh with a “Hear that, Shah Rukh ?” leaving that man grinning affectionately and couldn’t agree more.  For that moment, I think Urmila really deserved that applause !

Today, I live in fear of being found out that I had gone for the concert.  But 18 Nov 00 is a memory never will be forgotten.  Maybe for the company of whom I had gone with, if not for the show itself ?  Whatever the reason may be, as they say, all’s well that ends well.  And all I have now is a pair of cassettes and my thoughts captured in here.  *Click Click*.