An Evening Never Before in SFV

If an evening combines the qualities of enchanting, entertaining, par excellence, pleasant, house-full (nay, over-full), then perhaps one shouldn’t ask for more. Yes, that was what SFVians were in for at a gala event yesterday evening. Thank you SFV Cultural Group - Suraj Kishore & Co. - for organizing this ensemble on Hanuman Chalisa. 

Dr Guru Murthy Vaidya, founder of Nadha Foundation, a non-profit NGO, is the brain behind it. He presented his first project – Hanuman Chalisa composed by the saint Goswami Tulsi Das. The troupe consisted of 40 members, coinciding with the figure of Hanuman Chalisa.  They included players of flute, sitar, keyboard, tabla and various other percussion instruments, men and women vocalists, and Yakshagana, kathak and stick-dance artists.   

 In a jam-packed ampitheatre where one had to make-do with just 75% of space needed, it was very much worth enjoying the programme - unprecedented perhaps. And the contingent included three artists from SFV.  

In these days when it is very difficult to get people to move out to watch a movie, drama, or even to do shopping what with everything being available sitting in the comforts of one’s home, it was a tall order to collect a good gathering to watch a classical dance or music.  Against that backdrop if the amphitheatre was over-crowded yesterday, Kudos to SFV-residents who are game for such initiatives.

Now to the brass tacks. “Among all the items presented which one did you like the best?” If someone asks me, it will be difficult to answer.

Donning a perfect panchagachham and other paraphernalia suited for the occasion, when Mr Kishore Bhagavat, the Sutradar, or facilitiator – an HR man in real life – was explaining the gist, I was floored by his intonation, diction, reverberating voice, and total command over the subject. “I am going to rate him the best,” I swore to myself.  When he set about singing the hymns, I felt doubly sure.

Then, when the ensemble of 40 played their instruments in absolute unison and synchronization, it proved a real mood elevator. “I think I will go for this,” I modified my decision.

When the in-house lady presented a scintillating Kathak dance, I felt I was in a celestial world. Oh my God, what a perfect performance. It would have been a movie choreographer’s delight to cover the entire sequence in one single shot, without any retakes. This is it, I said.

Then when Dr Guru Murthy Vaidya gave us a sample of what he was capable of - playing solo in Pakhwaj, Dholak, Chande, and Maddale, all with equal ease, the real confusion began on rating.

Now, the Yakshagana featuring a near-real Hanuman and his bhakta dancing with gay abandon, I found it was no less entertaining. We could watch children jump with joy.  

And when around 8 ladies, including some from SFV, performed the stick dance (kolattam), in perfect beat to the orchestra and the overjoyed audience too clapping in unison, it was sone pe suhaaga, accentuating the beauty of something that is already beautiful. 

On a different note, it was nice to see Suraj’s son (Tabla master Zakir Hussain Jr), sitting at the top row with two other youngsters, this time choosing to give beat support through cymbals. Whenever we met in lift, he would give me, condescendingly though, a hi-fi just before exiting. I was hoping to see him play tabla. Maybe next time.

Anyway, to sum up, my answer is: Ek Se Badkar Ek. As simple as that.

Now my turn. I have two questions. One, we learn that the Foundation’s next project is something on Vivekananda.  Is it possible to book two seats in advance in the front row of amphitheatre? Second. What is meant by swarg se sundar? Has it got anything to do with life in SFV?

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