KK's concert

'Twas your moment, pal

Chennai danced and grooved to KK's electrifying music at IIT's Saarang, says SUDHISH KAMATH

AN HOUR after that electrifying concert that pumped out a double dose of Ekta Kapoor's favourite alphabet, drained of all energy, we stopped by at Residency Towers to recharge our batteries. Hotel restrooms are like communication control rooms. Eavesdrop and you'll know what news channels or newspapers will tell you only tomorrow. "Good show," said the tall dark guy matter-of-factly to his friend with the long curls who nodded in approval and said: "Good crowd." "Good" was such an understatement that one was tempted to say: "Really, Einstein?" when we caught a glimpse of the guy with the long hair on our way out of the restroom. The door closed and realisation dawned. Wasn't that KK? Was the eye playing games at the end of an absolutely rip-roaring rocker of an evening in the woods or was that really the man who was responsible for it? Before we tell you what happened next, a re-cap like those Ekta Kapoor episodes. The tickets got sold out the day before the concert. The seats got filled an hour before the show. Five minutes past eight, a sober KK took centre-stage, showing no indication of what he was to unleash in the next two and a half hours. In a trance It started off like any other light music show. With the "Rockford" number "Yaaron," track number one for the evening, he took the crowd with him to cloud number nine. Continuing with the melancholic mood for the evening, KK launched into "Sach Keh Raha Hai Deewana" ("Rehna Hai Tere Dil Main") as the crowd joined in as backing vocals. Then came the first gear shift for the evening. "Oh Humdum Suniyo Re," he went. And the crowd sprang on to its feet. They hummed too, to the rocking Rahman track from "Saathiya" and to operatic "Strawberry Kanney" that followed. The Open Air Theatre soon became Club OAT, a full-fledged disco with 7,000 people in a trance.
Clever to mix the fast and the slow tracks, KK changed tempo yet again with "Awaara Man" ("Jism") before he launched into pop mode with his chart-buster "Aap Ki Dua" and the title track of his album "Pal." It was during this track that KK experienced the most magical moment of his career. A sight seen to be believed. As KK continued with the slow number, one by one, members from the crowd switched on the light from their mobile phones and waved. In less than a minute, there were over 2,000 swaying mobile phones lighting up the ambience like fireflies in the dark. Electric, it was. Sure to have given the singer goose-bumps. That "Pal" (moment) was pure magic. A sight never seen before in this part of the world. A spontaneous gesture from the crowd which was showing its appreciation to a singer they really seemed to love. And more, as the show progressed. With a couple of fast tracks from "Main Hoon Na" ("Chale Jaisey") and "Humraaz" ("Ay Aa O"), KK took a break, an hour after the show started. People continued to pour into an overflowing OAT. The versatile singer started the second half of his concert with a soulful "Thadap Thadap" ("Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam"). The crowd sang along once again. They swayed yet again. And some more when he did the "Jhankaar Beats" number "Tu Aashiqui Hai" a little later. Enthusiastic musicians "Uyirin Uyire" ("Kaakha Kaakha") had the crowd erupting on its feet yet again. It was hot, humid, sweaty and yet nothing would put the brakes on the enthusiasm and energy charged up by KK's band of musicians. So ultimately, it was KK's turn to help them unwind as he sang "Yaaron" once again and the crowd responded with the mobile phone wave yet again. As he usually does, KK paid tribute to the song he sang the first time he got on to stage — "Summer of 69." You can imagine what that would do to a crowd starved of popular music. "Most rock bands think its damn smart to play tracks which no one has heard," as Bryan Adams-turned-KK fan Anuradha, said. "He's not embarrassed to play what most bands would think is high school stuff. He has no such pretensions. I love him." So much that KK also played a couple of popular Telugu tracks to keep a huge section entertained before he churned out two songs that became youth anthems. "It's the time to disco," he sang. They listened. "Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe," he sang. They agreed. Girls turned into cheerleaders and did the 'Macarena,' modified to suit his song. A young pop singer had turned into a youth icon. Overnight. Back at Residency Towers, a casually dressed KK comes out of the restroom with his musician friend. We tell him it was a great show. "Thanks," he smiles. "I was just telling him about it. The crowd was fantastic," he adds. "Absolutely fantastic," the tall musician friend concurs.

So how did he feel during that 'Pal' when a sea of lights from the mobile phones waved at him? "I've never seen anything like this ever in India, it was awesome. I've done quite a few shows," he says with the nervous excitement of a schoolboy about to receive his first ever prize. Probably why his 'Good crowd' observation earlier in the restroom seemed so understated. "But this one, was a cut above the rest, just awesome." The crowd had the same thing to say. About him, that is.

thanx i think kk rox! i really like his song tu hai asman mein and the recent one in dus!

Yea reems di i agree with ya he's a very good singer i luv his songs...!!!!

I get mixed up with Shaan and KK, but I love em both!!!

ya it's confusing but both r good singers...!! It seems that the idol is quite inspired by him they took both of his songs pal n yaroon so he's gr8 but the idol's versions r awesome....!!!!