Debojit Saha writes about his recent trip

For fans, nothing is more exciting than a glimpse of their favourite star. But this is true for artistes as well. Nothing can compare with the love and adulation we receive wherever we go, wherever we perform.

But to meet equally enthusiastic and cheering fans outside one's own country is something I had never imagined would occur. And that's what made my recent monthlong trip to the US and Canada truly delightful.

What I cherish most from the tour is that music connoisseurs from all walks of life, defying geographical and linguistic barriers, came to attend my concerts in different corners of the US and Canada, where I performed live. A group of 30 musicians and dancers from India, including Fame Gurukul winner Quazi and finalist Raks Desouza accompanied me during the musical tour organised by US-based NRI Natwar Thakkar. My wife Vandana accompanied me. Wherever we performed, be it Miami (Florida), Richmond (Virginia), Montreal, New York or New Jersey, I must say it was only love and a great deal of encouragement that we received during the musical trip to foreign shores. Music lovers in the US, particularly people of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin, have a great love for Bollywood music. They just cannot stop dancing to the beat of popular Bollywood numbers as we went on performing song after song.

I was stunned to see an 85-year-old gentleman of Indian origin with his wheelchair-borne wife attending the concert at New York. When the elderly gentleman told me from the midst of the audience that he was a great fan of mine, I had tears in my eyes. I later learnt that he had suffered several heart attacks, yet that did not deter him from coming and enjoying the concert. This is probably the magic of Bollywood, which we showcased during the trip. One might be surprised to know that Bollywood songs are adored outside the country.

Music lovers in different places declared that they are keen listeners of Bollywood songs, whether it is a Mohd Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Kumar Sanu or Sonu Nigam... they know all the great names of the Bollywood music industry.

Since a large number of NRIs from Assam and other parts of the Northeast came to attend the concerts, I also performed Bihu songs and Assamese numbers on popular demand. Many members of the audience specially came to attend the concert only after they came to know that Debojit from Assam was going to perform at the concerts. I also performed Bengali, Punjabi and Gujarati numbers at the shows. I feel as though I am an ambassador of Assam.

Fans from Assam and the Northeast could not stop asking me about the present situation of the region. I said all was well, but many things need to be changed. Many of the NRIs of the region are keen to contribute to the growth and development of the Northeast.

We also had an extensive sightseeing tour, where we travelled to different historical and famous spots of North America. Then came the shopping spree. Vandana and I visited several shopping malls, but as we were already carrying a heavy load of luggage, all I could manage to pick up as a souvenir for myself was an electronic guitar.

As soon as I came back from my trip with vivid snapshots stored in my memory bank, I started humming tunes and strumming my new guitar. I would love to relive these memories again and again in moments of solitude.