words of wisdom

“Its the world famous Kodak Theatre, sitting mightily in the fame of Hollywood. Home to the Oscars for the last few years, so as today. I walk through the red carpet waving at people I hardly know and dodging camera flashes into my eye. I am slowly escorted back stage where I meet my colleagues, my fellow singers, famous singers, fellow instrumentalist and of course my Guru, my mentor my Idol, ARRahman! Today is a special day for us. Not only for us for the whole Indian music phenomena. For the first time an Indian song has been chosen to be performed during Oscar night. Its none other than the famous duet by Lata Mangehkar and my Guru himself, Luka Chuppi from Rang De Basanti. Its a classic! evergreen classic! A song to cherish for generations to come. But this night the song thats going to open more doors in Hollywood for Indian Music.

Its time. The screens open side ways. I feel the applause of thousands of people, but I cant see them, I see flashes here and there but otherwise I am lost in nervousness, shivering sitting in the high stool with the guitar in my hands. I am sweating in this air conditioned hall. I start plucking on the strings here goes the song! The maestro smiling at me. She has done her singing now its my turn to reach those high notes. I sing. I keep on singing. Closing my eyes and feeling the song so deeply. We sing continuously until we reach the last part where the svaras come. We exchange smiles, the maestro, Mangeshkar and me and set out voices in it. Its amazing. I can feel it! The maestro joining in with us. Oh what an incredible feeling. How special to be part of history in the making! The song end. Its a huge success. The applauses, the smiles form the audiences the feel of the room, everythign feels right, special, we rocked it! Just like the movie it self. We painted Hollywood Yellow with the indian Turmeric! We helped create one history today for many more to come in future! Oh I wouldnt hesitate to die today. I feel fullfilled!”

That is a dream…that I am dreaming these days from the time I heard Rahmans song has been selected for the Oscars! What a dream.. What a feeling. I want to witness this history in the making March 2007!