A Mathematical Night with Jagjith Singh

World of Titan presents Padmabhushan Jagjith Singh live in concert at palace grounds.
Date: 05th July 2008
Venue: Palace ground, Bangalore

The name “Jagjith Singh” caught my eye when I was reading Bangalore mirror that day. I decided to attend the same. I called up Itcha to check his availability, as we missed last concert of Jagjith in Bangalore. He said he won’t be available as he made plans to go home that weekend. He also warned me saying "Jagjith might bore you!!”

So my first option of going with someone to a concert was out. I messaged my other set of friends to check their availability for the same. Sadly some are going home, some are not interested in ghazals, some messaged me saying "call me if there is a rock show, but please, not ghazals.!!"

I tried booking tickets on bookmyshow, just to find out there is no 600 Rupees (normal class) worth tickets available. Only 1200 Rupees (Standard class) and 2400 Rupees (Royal class) worth tickets were available. Finally I decided not to attend the concert, as I don't have a company and don't have tickets on normal class.

But life had different plans for me.

On 3rd July when I was coming in bus, I saw Gayathri Vihar, shining with lots of Posters of Jagjith Singh’s live concert. My mind went unstable. I got down from the bus and walked all the way to Gayathri Vihar.

After reaching, I asked watchman “where is the tickets available for the concert”. He pointed to some hall about 400 meters, away from the entrance.

So I started walking towards the hall crossing 18 Amazon sized trees on my left, and 18 on right. There were totally 9 posters of concert, placed at a frequency of every two trees. Finally I reached ticket counter and asked if any normal class tickets are available, just to get an answer “it was finished a week earlier”. He said only Standard and Royal class tickets are available. He also explained me the intentions of the concert saying “it’s for helping the poor orphans Jagjith Singh is having this concert”.

Yeah. That cheap maska worked on me. I brought Standard class ticket worth 1200 Rupees.

I started analyzing the ticket.

It was in black color with Jagjiths photo in it. He had neutral expression on his face.

My ticket red, Row 34, seat 49,

Date : 05-07-2008 Saturday, show at 7:00pm gate opens at 6:00pm.

I realized ticket is dominated by number 7. 3+4 =7, 49 = 7*7, seventh month, at 7 pm, on the seventh day of the week. Also 5th July was in 27th week of 2008..!!!

I turned the ticket to see around 20 terms and condition. I got disappointed to see the term “You cannot carry the camera to the hall.” That’s bad.

I finally took an auto to reach my room by paying him 21 rupees. (Damn!!! 21= 7*3)

Anyway finally It is 5th july.

I was a fan of Jagjith singh since the day when I heard his ghazal, “Woh kaagaz ki kashti, woh baarish ka paani” He has got thick voice, which when blended with violin makes me feel I’m somewhere far from this universe. A universe which is so beautiful.

Recently I came to know that earlier his wife chitra singh used to sing with him, but she stopped singing after a heartbreaking loss of their son in an accident.

I got geared up for the concert. This is my first paid concert and I was happy that I was starting it with the Ghazal maestro Jagjith Singh.

I took my Black jacket thinking it would be cold in the night. Took a Rick and headed towards Gayathri Vihar. On the way got struck in traffic, and a beggar came to me begging for money. Since I had decided not to give any money for the road side beggars, I refuse to give anything.

Kuck andar se aawaaz aaya, “ You are spending 1200 bucks for the people whom you haven’t seen. But this poor beggar though in need, u r not giving a paisa...!” But the traffic signal turned green, so don't want to take some more thinking on it.

Gayathri Vihar is getting the Jagjith’s tune. People were flowing like big river to the venue. There were some really good looking girls, and some poli - Guys checking out each girl. The entrance is decorated nicely. I reached venue by 6:45. Saw people standing the queue to get the ticket.

I entered the hall.

It is a big hall, with chairs arranged in a nice manner. Top was covered by aluminium sheets and decorative clothes. I noticed normal class zone had plastic chairs, standard zone had chairs with comfortable back support, and Royal zone had sofa covered in white cloth.

Already tabla-wala, violin-waala, harmonium-waala, and flute-waala had occupied the stage and were testing their instruments and the microphone. I found my seat, in the middle of 6th and 7th pillar of the whole hall, and noticed no fans only for this zone. It was hot which is exactly opposite to what I had expected. The musicians left the stage without any notice, and I started counting the number of rows. There were totally 51 rows, with 69 chairs in my row. So I did the calculation of the approximate strength of the hall. It is 69*51 = 3519, meaning the hall can accommodate about 3500 people. I also guessed there are 17 rows of 69 chairs in each of normal, standard, royal zones. Adding up totally – 17*51*(600+ 1200+2400) = 36, 41,400 Rs. Impressive..!!

I sat in my chair waited for the show to get start. The Projector in the hall started showing the Titan add in their screen. After five minutes, I got bored hence, went to buy popcorn. After coming back to my seat, I started having it, and it was too spicy. After 10 minutes got up to buy water. The projector continued showing the advertisement of Titan.

I waited for the show to get start. I waited…waited... the projector continuously showed Titan Add. I waited... Waited... Projector looked un tiring... I waited... waited...

Started counting items in the hall just to make myself engaged, in order to time pass.

There were totally 45 pillars over which the audience zone is built in a 9 row of 5 pillars in each. Each pillar is having Fan running with full speed, except my zone and the last zone. Totally 7*4 = 28 fans.

There were totally 50, three leveled chandelier . First level had 6, second 3 and the third had one flower to hold the bulb. Each flower had 6 petals. So the calculation (6+3+1) = 10 flower in each decorative lamp, such fifty lamp making 500 flowers, each having 6 petals making 3000 petals. 500 bulbs each of 100 Watt (I guess) making 50Kwatt power consumption only to decorate the hall..!!!

The projector still continued showing adds of titan, and it continued till 7:35 from 7:05. I checked the duration of Add, and it was 30 seconds. Which means in the past half an hour the add was played for 60 times... That to Non Stop!! Single Add 60 times over half an hour...

The night was turning out to be Boring and mathematical night than Musical...

Finally it was 7:35 (Hour and minute handles are both on 7!!) when MC came and started giving intro of Jagjith Singh. She also introduced His team members to the audience, as they occupied their place…

Finally she called up Jagjith Singh’s name.. And crowd welcomed him with a big round of claps..

“Good evening, namaskar, Assalam Alaikum, Sasriakal”, words came out from Jagjith Singh’s mouth, who wore Black kurtha and paijama. The claps went too high...

Soon he stated singing at around 7:40.. The much awaited moment for Me.!!

"Kuch na kuch to…."

"Voilin kam karo"…
"Kuch na kuch to …"
"Tabla ka sharpness badaao.."
"Kuch na kuch to"

“Aage ka microphone teek karo”

"Kuch na kuch to"

..

It went on like this... He was saying only "Kuch to" for the first 3
minutes and I guess he repeated around 18 times..!!!!

"Kuch na kuch to zaroor hona hai”
… And then the second Para he sang after a long time,

“saamna aaj unse hona hai."

I was getting tortured more than what Himesh Reshammiya does in his songs.. Also a thought came to my mind is Jagjith the inspiration for Himesh Reshammiya?

It failed to create an impression on me which I had when I listened to his songs earlier. I wanted to listen to "Who kaagaz ki kashti", "Hosh waalaonko", "Koi fariyaad", “Dile naadan tujhe hua kya hai”,”Yun to guzar raha hai”, “Ek purana” ,”Hum toh hai pardes mein”, “Kabhi aanso”, “Raat khamosh hai” Etc Etc , A long list of wonderful ghazals in the way he sang in those albums.. Not with repetitions.

Next to me one family sat. They looked as if they came not to attend the concert but to time pass. Their kid of around 12 years old was irritating by moving here and there from his seat to take the snaps of Jagjith Singh.!! I first of all sincerely followed the rule saying “No cameras”, now this guy is moving only to take the snaps on his camera. It all added up to my frustration.

His violin guys had some problems and he said "Violin off karlo." It looked as if Jagjith Singh and violin guy had some fight..

Anyway after 10 minutes of "kuch to" he sang another one.

I got my interest back when he started singing

"Yeh doulath bhi lelo..
Yeh shohorath bhi lelo..
Bacle cheenlo mujse meri jawwani..
Magar mujko lauta de bachpan ka saawan,
Who kaagaz ki kashti,
Who bearish ki paani.."

My mood was back..!!

After that he sang “Koi Fariyaad”, I got so exited at the beginning, but was mood out after hearing the whole song the way he sang. He was non stopping in repeating.. He repeated some Para for 21 times this time.!!

He sang two more songs to finish off the first half. Totally 7 songs before the interval with "Tukrao ke pyaar karo, mein nahse mein hoon" at the end, with same kind of repetition for more than 10 times.

Anyway got out from my place to get some fresh air. When I came back I noticed the family already left.!! Even I thought of leaving, but something stopped me from leaving..

"Kehte hai na, Jo bhi hota hai achche ke liye hota hai..”

Well Jagjith is about to start his second innings, a good looking girl came and sat next to me. She was in cheetah colored dress, and black jeans. She wore big chain around her neck. She is beautiful with round face. Her voice came out "can I sit there?" I said "Sure”. Though I meant "Please"..

She sat next to my chair, but later shifted to next of that as she made her Jassi jaise friend to sit next on my chair.. She is three chairs away from me. The stage musician started the tune of "Hoshwalonko khabar kya.."

Well the music continued, Jagjith started singing "Tukraao.." which he had already finished earlier by pulling it to more than 10 minutes.. I got confused as the all of audience. Soon he started singing "Hoshwalonko khabakya…". It went well. Loved his way of singing. I was completely hypnotized. Thanked myself for not skipping the plan of leaving.

He continued With other songs like "Jhoom ke jab rindo ne pilaadi" followed by "Dile naadan tujhe hua kya hai?, aakhir is dard ka dava kya hai"..

Loved it. Since all of these songs are my favorite and this time he didn't raped the song. He simply rocked in the second half.. Loved it. Patience has its own value..

He sang another song which I haven't heard of followed by two stunning Punjabi track. Punjaabis on the concert started dancing. Finally its all done by around 10:25 I left the auditorium sensing it's the end of the show.

Well show wasn't got over. When I came out I found even the beauty and jassi also coming out of the auditorium.

Well near to the stage outside, I found there is kind of rush, and my mind sensed something. I went there just to realize Jagjith Singh coming out of the auditorium. He was escorted to his car. ! I felt frustrated since I didn't had a pen or paper to get at least an autograph. I saw him going in the car at a distance of 1 FT.

Finally it’s all over. I was happy since I got to listen to him live. Though in the first half he bored me to the core, second half he simply rocked..!!

I remain,

J