‘Remember Shakti!’ Or ‘Remember Shakti?’

Remember Shakti. What an apt title!! The only thing that is needed is a question mark at the end. Because am sure when one asks about the Shakti concert, it will need some brain wracking to 'Remember Shakti'!

Shakti, the musical concert. The concert, which is supposed to have been acclaimed around the world. And when one takes into considerations the performing artists (mainly Zakir Hussain), no less should be expected. Right?

And so, when I was told that Shakti will be in my own city, even I had no second thoughts about attending this one. Who would want to miss tabla maestro Zakir Hussain playing live! Even though one might not understand anything about taal or raaga. Atleast one can comment on the ‘Oh so cute and sexy Zakir’ and his ‘oh so cute hair!’ And to give him company were other world famous artists including our very own Shankar Mahadevan. Well! Shankar Mahadevan! For a musical concert not related to film music! Even my eyebrows went up. But who cared. All I cared was Zakir’s hands beating on the tabla and his hair dancing away against the wonderfully light backdrop of Shaniwarwada.
And to watch his magical hands (and hair), I decided to miss another concert happening in the city. (How I wish I hadn’t!)

With excitement and enthusiasm, I along with a few others landed at the venue.
Only to be informed that we will have no chairs to sit on. (Mind you we had paid quite an amount for the tickets.) We had to make ourselves comfortable on the ground. So much so for organizing a concert! From then onwards began our agony.

No sooner had the maestros ascended on stage, they gave an idea of what to expect from the show. Just minutes after they started playing, there came a tantrum about press photographers moving around and disturbing their concentration. Well! I thought they were adjusting their instruments till then! Atleast sounded like that. I might not understand the intricacies of music but I can surely understand good things being played on some musical note.

As the show progressed, I started cursing myself for having fallen prey to media hype. Or was it glamour? Or was it the hair? I was trying to decide when my train of thoughts was broken by a screeching voice trying to sing. And that screech was by none other than the 'talented' Indian singer. Mr Mahadevan, you should stick to being breathless. Atleast people will not understand whether there is any raaga or taal associated with breathless songs.

Just when I thought that we had enough of music or non-music, the maestro started beating on the instrument as if a tiger was on his chase. He kept on drumming it and refused to stop. And then even the others joined him. Maybe the tiger wanted to eat them up for making such a noise. I sincerely hoped a tiger would, if not them atleast would eat me up. I could not bear the noise (I refuse to call it music) anymore. Thankfully after a few torturous minutes, they stopped. And to my surprise were greeted with a thunderous applause. Maybe people were happy like me that it had ended!

And then lighting stuck and I understood the title! Of course one will have to make an effort to ‘Remember Shakti’. And yes, even the organisers made it a point to ask people to 'Remember Shakti'. I guess they also were sure that people will forget a concert like that!