As much as I would like to stay diplomatic and retain some sense of decorum as I recap the events of yesterday’s musical concert by Vani Jeyaram, Chinmayi, Vijay Yesudas and Haricharan, I have to be honest with myself and you, the reader. We are dealing with people that I have danced, sang, laughed and even cried along with through song. So if I go back into crazy fangirl mode, please bear with me.
Tickets booked way in advance, the excitement had already boiled to scary levels before the event. However, I actually started the night on a bad note. It didn’t last long but was surely there. We [my mother, her friend and I] arrived at the event thinking that we were early, although puzzled there was no parking. Turns out the show wasn’t supposed to start at 6:30pm as we thought. It was 5:30pm. My heart sank. I feared I missed out on those crucial songs I wanted to hear. Worse, we lost our seats even though they were booked! But I have to thank my stars that they were running a little late so we didn’t.
So there we were, late and pissed off when I set foot in the auditorium to see Chinmayi on stage. She had already started the event with a respectful tribute to those that have left us and that were taken from us in Sri Lanka so the auditorium was quiet and solemn. After the silent tribute, she began with the song that I have a tradition of crying with. Oru Dheivam Thantha Poove played on cd is more than I can bear as it is, but to hear Chinmayi render it live was too much for me. As my mother sat mystified at my state, I cried to each line [no joke!]. The word beautiful is simply not enough for me to describe how it was.
Next on the dias, or rather from in the midst of the crowd, was one of my favourite star kid singers. Vijay Yesudas actually makes me forget his father when he sings his own songs which a tough achievement actually since I grew up on a lot of K.J. Yesudas’ songs. Also, I have already seen him perform a few years ago with his dad so I was somewhat aware of his interactive way of singing. But he had a few more tricks in store this time, with more dancing and walking through the aisles. To say that I was within grasp of a handshake is no lie as he walked straight passed me, stood in front of me and even looked at me [Eeek!!]. Dhavani Potta Deepavali never sounded as awesome as it did last night and Vijay had the full attention of a singing and clapping audience.
The next intro went to Haricharan, who was making his debut to Sydney-town. He didn’t really dawdle with thank yous and how are yous in his entry and got stuck right into Thuli Thuli Mazhaiya Ponaale. As smooth as his singing was, he did make a point to not be completely precise; adding a few extra bits here and there, which was welcomed. At the same time, I don’t think he expected there to be such large fan base for Yuvan when he began as the audience went beserk [myself included!!] when he was finished. But the singer took that as an energy booster and sang his next songs with more gusto.
From here was a clever intro of Vijay singing his father’s Kalaivaniye from Sindhu Bhairavi to introduce Vani Jeyaram conceived by Chinmayi. This is one of my favourite songs and as much as I was involved in the standing ovation Vanimma was greeted with [I hooted more than anyone else!], I secretly wished Vijay would finish the song. But nevertheless, Vanimma’s graceful yet peppy Maligai En Mannan Mayangum was as amazing as the first time I heard her sing it in the film. But more than that enchanting voice, I was taken aback by how humbled and fun she was on stage.
Intros done with grandeur, it was time to get stuck into a lot of jamming, rocking, singing, dancing [or in my case, seat-bopping] and general shenanigans of a concert. As much as my mother wanted to restrain my movement, some songs were not going to have me sitting crossed armed and still. Haricharan made his songs part singing, part dancing to live things up. Vijay went a step further and grabbed a girl from the audience for a special listen of Un Parvai Mele Pattaal on stage, next to him! To say I was jealous of this girl would be an understatement but this was the one occasion through the night that I had to listen to my darling mother. But by far, Chinmayi’s solo songs were the most entertaining. Not only because songs like Maiyya Maiyya gets anyone to move but because of her gorgeous co-singer, Amaiya. For the uninitiated, Amaiya is Vijay’s 2 year old daughter and she was gorgeous in her little princess baby pink dress. Watching her imitate Chinmayi and behave like she was singing as well was a sight for sore eyes.
The best part of this event, beyond the amazing singing, was the performer's interaction. Each time Chinmayi came on stage singing a duet with one of the boys, a little fun banter would make the proceeding a little less formal. The boys definitely had their fun with Jalsa Pannungada and Haricharan’s bicycle act was a little bit of cinema on stage. I especially loved the camaraderie between the young singers with the jokes at each other’s expense although as Vanimma said, she was the youngest out of them all at heart and had the audience laughing just as much with her incredible sense of humour.
Oru Malaiyoram, Mama Mama, Yaar Intha Penthaan, Aariro, Rasathi Pola, Lesa Parakkuthu, Oyyaaiye, Gangai Yamunai, Illamai Oonjaladuthu, Bharathi Kannamma, Vaarayo Vaarayo and Kilimanjaro are some of the songs they sang and to be honest, I just couldn’t get enough of it. i secretly begged to god they would sing more songs and maybe even a few of my favourites. An added bonus had to be my wish list duet of Chinmayi and Vijay rendering Sahana Saaral, a combination I wish was in the film. But they didn’t stop there with songs like Alliyambal, Gori Tera Gaon, Tere Bina, Yammadi Aathadi and lots more were included, if only a few lines.
With the night coming to an end, I must say my personal achievement was being one of the only star-struck fans with a relative composed nature, a camera and an autograph book too, ready and waiting. I was determined to get something since I couldn’t get as many photos during the program as I wanted [The organisers got security to ask me not to take photos]. However, if you thought I was crazy, I must tell you about a dear friend of mine. For someone that is normally quite composed, he became more of a fanboy than me when our request to one of the organisers to get someone, ANYONE to see us was heeded to and out walked Chinmayi. I could have sworn his cheeks when red when he saw her. Yet, even amongst the chaos of fans photos and screams, not only did I succeed in getting an autograph but a photo as well with Chinmayi whom I must thank once again for recognising me from twitter.
By the time I got home, all I could think of was how they ensured the best was only to come for me and the audience at the beginning. Boy did they deliver and then some! Whether it was their own songs, solos or duets, each singer was welcomed with an applause. It was truly a memorable night.
