Its cloudy evening in Houston, and rushed from
office early by saying my manager that my favorite musician is in City
and I can't be in office under any case...He wished me good luck and
gave send-off for the concert (how nice he is na!!)
I prepared to break any rule to see ARR from near...but never expected such a
mind blowing day I will be having..
The show was supposed to start at 9pm. I was there with one other rahmanaiac at
the concert by 6pm.
And
I broke the first rule...I went directly before the stage...when I was
entering, luckily rahman was not on the stage and he was coming for
relaxation in the seating area. He sat there...
I never gave any
thought for a wait..I just went there..Completely in a shock...no
words...Just told, "Rahman ji, I am gr8 diehard fan of you..I just need
one photograph and autograph from you"
"you know, i met you already
in unity of light concert in 2003, and this is the second time..and u
donno that i touched you that day ;)", he gave a smile...i donno what i
was talking "
He is so down to earth...inspite of big tension before
the concert starts(just 3 hours more...and nothing is been ready yet..)
he said, "Ok!" and gave a small smile...
We took one photo..and wanted a photograph with him...I sat beside him and i
got it
Then,
Autograph...As I never expected, I could break the rule so easily...and
I could meet ARR, I didnt carry anything to take an autograph...
I
asked him, "if you dont mind could you please give autograph on my
t-shirt which i am wearing", he asked surprisingly.."this one?!"...i
told..."Where?" as it was black...and pen is also black...
I showed
him place, where can sign...his forehead...He gave it...uhmm.....one
deep breath...and he got call fro stage...he left the place..and never
came down...
I was just before the stage helping working guys in moving chairs etc and
acting like i am a part of crew :)
Rahman was
looking at me in between...as I am continuously staring at him without
moving my eyes...seem he was little bit in comfort..then I could see
sivamani, rashid, naveen and ravi kiran very near to me..
and some
time later almost all singers were also there on the stage...they were
busy in doing their work shivamani was the entertainer for everyone
with his dances and funny things..he makes laugh with everyone in the
crew...
Rashid ali...I had eye contact with him..asked him to come forward for a
pic...he came...and asked who are we?
"I
told, I am a gr8 fan of you also..i am also from hyderabad..I was there
when you performed in unity of light concert in 2003, you sing very
well also"
he was impressed and told, "oh, you were there? good..and what were you doing
here?"
I told
"I work here as a software engineer"...he told "good, and how come you are
here?"
I
told "its the secret!!, I am a gr8 fan of Rahman...i could even tell i
sweep hear"--but the reason i came into is different ofcourse
"then
Asked for a photograph with him...pleasantly he accepted and i had
photo with him..and I said ok..thank you..he again went back to work
And
after that, I was moving hear and there...and rahman was also moving
hear and there and helping everyone of the crew to setup their mikes
properly..
then organizers came and offered some snacks for him..he
took red bull...they came to me also, supposing that i am part of
crew...i also took red bull(for the first time i am having red bull in
life)
naveen was also looking at me..and finally he smiled at me....then i asked him
to come close...he came..
I told, "I was looking at you since long time, when you will come here" he told
suprisingly with a smile "ohh.i am sorry!"
"ohh..ok
no problem..you are busy..i understand, and i told i am a great fan of
you too..heard your fluid..its mind blowing...chennai rain was superb"
he thanked me..and so happy with my words..
asked for a snap..he put his hand on my shoulder very happily and gave fose for
the photo....so friendly...
Then
its the turn with Naresh Iyer...but he was looking at me strangely,
like somewhere he saw me...I just called him to come closure and gave a
shake hand
thing is by that time...it is becoming busy...so i
couldnt take a snap..I just told him "you are a very good singer...i
like your songs, wish you all the best" he gave a cute smile and left
place
I went near sridhar...the busiest guy throughout the
show...about to take a snap of him..he simply rejected it by
saying..."after!", i can understand how busy he might be...I asked at a
wrong time...but i never felt bad...even if i was him, i could have
done the same..such tensed the situation was..so,
He helped naveen in setting up the mike..he is genius...he know how much angle
should keep to get the effect from flute...
then
the godes, Rahman's mother came in the seating area..and was reading
some tamil letters. I went there...and saw her id and confirmed that
she is his mother..
she know tamil and little hindi when i asked her...
then
I told, "aapkaa betaa.....uhm..uhmm..very good musician..i like him a
lot"..."Can i have photograph of you and one with you?"..."photo..photo
plzz" she smiled and nodded her head saying "yes"
Thats it..took snap with her..and thanked her..and she was busy in reading
those stuff..
Then Hariharan came..but he was busy in chating with some woman..and
disappeared....
then I again went back to Rahman..
In
between he was looking at me with a surprise face and ofcourse he was
too busy...and finally he went for getting ready for the show..
And i felt my purpose of going to concert is been done!!
and the next 3 hours are free of cost for me...
I
saw Rahman performing live from very near on his piano and teaching one
saxophone gal there...videos are there in the picasa...
So,
thats the RED BULL story of mine...
thats the gr8est Day in my life...again!!
Just wait for the next 3 hours....Still need to write..
~~Rahmaniac™ SURESH~~
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