SOPHISTICATED HEADBANGING

''Ye shaam mastaanee, madahosh kiye jaa
  Mujhe dor koee khinche, teree or liye jaaye..." 

Finishing the last line in a low pitched, stretched, melodious way with a little humming in the end, singer Amit Kumar, the son of the legendary singer and my father's singing guru-Kishore Kumar- hung the mic on the mic stand only to hear the roars of applauds from the audience, some even giving a standing ovation. Those were the ardent followers of Kishore Kumar who were only present there, on a Sunday evening, to pay their unfading respect, unending support with unconditional love to their music Ekam, the sole singing legend, on his 86th birth anniversary.

Amit Kumar paying Tribute

Last Sunday, a noble organization held up a programme to pay tribute to the most loved singer of all times, in Shanmukhananda hall in Sion. Many big celebrities and nobles were invited. Singer and son of Kishore, Amit Kumar, was the star player of the night. He is taken to be the near-perfect Kishore Kumar; the old withered eyes look for their beloved singer in him. Apart from Amit, even Bollywood playback singer, a minister of state and the chief guest of the night, Babul Supriyo, hiked the moods of audience, making them go gaga for him, in disguise to Kishore. There were a few other celebrities from the singing fraternity of the Bollywood clique. The whole event consisted of paying tribute to Kishore Kumar, formerly, then also providing a better platform for the uprising singing talent who were used as fillers. Besides this, a monograph based on the life of Kishore was launched. Meanwhile, a power point presentation was played, on a 100'' LED screen, consisting of  very few pictures of Kishore, set in a loop, circling the whole time till the end of the event. 

The sheer occupancy and the soaring roars echoing in the auditorium was the epitome of the success of the event. 

On my part, I like Kishore and his style of singing, which is versatile. Having grown in a family where music is more than a religion, where legendary singers are no less than deities, where sordid affairs relating music is no less than terrorism; one needs to respect, if not love music. Such fidelity is observed for music and musicals ideals. I don't sing but I enjoy music, any good music, no boundaries whatsoever. 

Despite having lectures on Sunday, my classmates and I, we planned for a dinner to take a break from the monotony of the class. The monotony was maddening. A break was a sine qua non! A WhatsApp group, on Friday, was made for the same. Slowly but strongly a restaurant was fixed. The plan was on! It was on, but for me, only until the Friday evening. As I learnt that dad had bought tickets for a musical night, wherein singers would be singing to pay tribute to Kishore Kumar, leaving me with no choice but to go with the family.  

At the entrance there was a marquee saying ''Yeh shaam mastani... on 86th birth anniversay.''

Now, let’s flip the coin.

Headbang

Normally, youth of my generation and Gen-Y prefer the western music leaving a few to the soothing of classical and retro music. If today, one suggests an old song to one's peer, there is a likely chance of being laughed at calling that one for living in an uncle's age. Music these days isn't about the choice, preference and liking but about the masses. People follow, engross and adapt themselves to the likes of others and what media wants them to like. Dancing in clubs to any Bollywood or Hollywood numbers. Following suit of others so as to be well accepted in the cult, whatever it maybe. The loyalty was nowhere to be seen. All things Ephemeral! 

I, for myself once, was a Heavy Metal music lover; followed bands, attended different gigs, saw people getting drunk. Got myself drunk as well. What amazed me the most was the sub-culture of these Metalheads or Headbangers. The way they express their music or the music expresses through them, such well entwined . The headbangs, the mosh pits, the death wall, stage diving, crowd surfing and what not. Of all, the most aggressive and the most loyalty gaining cult, albeit less in numbers. Definitely barring the classical cult.

Think of the times you were in the gig banging your head. You might end up finding many such times. Some even long forgotten. The reverie for the music, the adrenaline push that you got despite the hours of horrendous amount of energy spewed in moshing. The music taking you to new highs, with a little of alcohol catering to, way above the earthly desires. All alone, in a happy space, really Happy!

Flipping the coin back again.

That night, in that event, i experienced a new world, a new energy, all driven by the loyalty and love- all Happy! 

Though initially I was sulking about being brought into the auditorium instead of letting me go to have dinner with friends. This sulking and grimace ditched my mind no sooner than the two performances were performed, though still not performed by the star of the night. All I could see slowly and steadily, I, along with others, was getting myself, involuntarily, into the oscillations of the musical pendulum. I observed, like a Metalhead bangs his head, a Kishore fan, generally in the age group of 35 and above, would hum along swinging his head with rhythms or tapping his foot, with a smile of delight and even more smiling eyes to complement it. If it were for his favorite song, then the excitement may come out through a whistle or two and then again following the above mentioned suit. Thundering claps and a loud cheer before and after the performance was rudimentary, I fathomed, was the driving factor. For the audience, who had a draconian Monday the next day, stayed glued for over four hours; eyes of content, smiling throughout. 

This different world, consisted of elderly people more than the young adults, coming from various parts of the country and diversities, forming a ball of super charged energy was not different to me than the mosh or the head-banging guys in a metal gig.

If today's generation growls, make horns and head-bangs; the earlier generation does the same with subtle sophistication!