A Capella Bollywood-Ishtyle
My friend Alan has a friend Harsh who has adequate experience of gate-crashing concerts. He just hangs around the venue at the time of the concert, and inevitably some bloke or the other gives him a pass, in exchange for monetary benefits, goodwill etc
Last weekend we decided to try the same trick — and it worked.
Alan, Larissa and myself were hanging around in town scouting for something interesting to do. We lounged around at a CCD, bored with the choice of music and the somewhat tasteless coffee, by the end of it. Besides, the best seat, a comfy looking sofa was already taken by this mammoth-sized individual who was sprawled across it, forever.
A little write-up in the events listing of Mid-Day caught our eye. Penn Masala, a chorale group from the US was performing at the NCPA. Their style is a capella (only vocals, no instruments).
The concert was scheduled for 7.30 and only by invitation. It was organised by a corporate for its customers. We stayed put at the steps of the Jamshed Baba auditorium.
After a bit, I spotted one of the members of the organising committee. He looked like the compassionate sort. I told him how we were really passionate about a capella and how we perform with a group which specialises in a capella and dying to hear Penn Masala, of whom we had heard so much about.
He said if we hung around until the concert began, maybe he could rustle up some empty seats. I watched lots of young gals and gals with their designer perfumes, women with diamonds (no pearls) and rich-looking men from the business communities sashaying in. The concert began and we did get those empty seats.
Penn Masala comprises 12 chaps in the age groups of 17 to 21 (some who’s voices haven’t broken yet) from Pennsylvania University. They were fantastic, though not consistantly. They did Vande Mataram and O Lamhe etc a capella.
Traditionalists may disagree, but I thought it was great. A capella as a form seems restricted in India to classical music and folk songs. Performing Bollywood songs, a capella style, gave it a contemporary effect and allowed more people who had probably never ever heard about such a concept, enjoy it. I know I did.
The group has been around for 10 years, though the members keep changing, as is the case with most chorale groups.
