11th July 2002 saw the most surprising event happen in Aamchi Mumbai. I woke up in the morning as late as 10 am, and the first thing I did was read the newspaper. I rarely read The Times of India, as my main interest is Bombay Times, but I flipped through the pages of TOI, and what do I see in one small section of the paper towards the end? “Planet M & BT present A.R. Rahman. Meet and greet A.R. Rahman on the occasion of the Bombay Dreams CD release at Planet M CST @ 6 pm.”
I couldn’t believe my eyes… ARR was in Aamchi Mumbai for a great occasion we’ve all been waiting for. “Why wait? Let’s proceed to CST,” was my first reaction. As my net was not working, it was difficult to inform all of you guys that we could all go together in a group and cheer our man. I tried to call up Vijay, Ambrish, and Ravikiran, but I couldn’t get through to them. I decided to go alone. I called Deepika (one of our members) and told her to wait at Andheri station. I left at 4.30 pm to reach 1/2 hr early.
As I reached at 5.30 pm, Planet M was fully prepared to welcome the great man with big BD posters and hangings all over. T.V. sets were telecasting BD promos and special interviews, and the DJ was playing the tracks. It was quite empty, to my surprise. I grabbed a CD (with a bonus VCD of excerpts of the play and ARR’s interview) and stood near the dais. I was searching for our group members, but I didn’t know them by face. So I went to the counter and requested the lady to announce that if there is anybody from the arrahmanfans yahoogroup, to assemble near the dais. She was quite amazed to know that he had such a huge fan following, and when I told her about the strength and reach of our group, she could hardly believe me. But only 3-4 people turned up.
Rakesh, Akhil, Nikhil (all silent observers of the group) and I went and stood right in the front. As the time came closer, fans and well-wishers started pouring in, and the press and media were all ready with their cameras and video cams. Security became tight, and there were strict warnings not to take any personal photographs or autographs. Only the first 30 people having a CD would be allowed to take his autograph. People were clapping and tapping to the tunes of Shakalaka Baby and Ganesh. It was 6.30, but no sign of ARR.
He was to be accompanied by Farah Khan. The host assured me that he would be there in 10 mins. We were all waiting patiently. The hostess told that this is the 2nd time ARR is coming to Planet M to promote his music: one for Lagaan. But then I told her that he’d also come for Jana Gana Mana. And her normal reaction was, “Well, I should ask these guys. They know him better!” I felt so proud. I got to meet many people and fans who are as devoted and updated as our group members. I told them to join the group.
Suddenly, a lady came running and told the host: “He’s arrived!” The crowd was uncontrollable. The photographers all set. And there… he arrived… with his usual humble smile… clad in a grey T-shirt and blue jeans, and Farah Khan accompanying him. The crowd went shouting: Rahman… Rahman… ARR… ARR.
He stepped on the dais and stood there. Cheers didn’t stop until the lady handed over the microphone to him. He was asked to narrate his experience working with Webber and the music. He spoke very calmly and said that it was all God’s grace. When the hostess told the audience that Michael Jackson had worn a T-shirt with ARR’s picture on it and the caption “Salute the Legend!” the crowd couldn’t stop applauding. The hostess praised him for his simplicity and humility.
Farah Khan also praised him and stated, “Why mess with perfection?” They told the audience that they could ask him questions. I raised my hand, and the hostess handed over the microphone to me, as she had seen me from quite some time. I was shivering as I held the microphone.
I congratulated him and asked him, “Sir, we’ve been hearing a lot about your unreleased project ‘Water,’ will it see the light of day?” His cool reply was, “Ask Deepa Mehta, hee hee hee (giggles)!” I told him that we were all very thirsty! He also told that Kadhal Virus is complete, only one song has been recorded for Boys, and Baba releases next week. Everyone started requesting him for a song. He was skeptical and refused, but the crowd did not lose hope. He just shouted “Dil se re…” and uttered a thank you. One Tamil fan asked him, “Sir, oru pattu, please!” Suddenly, all Tamil fans started shouting “oru pattu…oru pattu…vellai pookal.” Farah requested him to sing that, and he did. One full mukhda and the whole crowd was humming with him. What an experience!
As the event came to an end, they escorted him to the café where he would have a cup of coffee and sign autographs. We were asked to make a queue, and only those who had the CD and the bill were allowed. My God! There was a stampede. People stamping and pushing to form a queue.
I managed to go in the front and was among the first 5 to go up. I went to him, but they were not allowing anyone to go to him. They took my inlay cover, and he signed on it and gave it back. He just signed “Love ARR”. There was one rebellious fan from our group, Nikhil, who insisted on meeting him. The security did not allow him, but he did not keep silent. He sat there until the end, and even I sat with him. We had a good chat and were patiently waiting for him to come.
As he finished the formalities, he made a call. I got a call from Vijay saying that he had left a voicemail on his cell. When ARR got free, we surrounded him. We told him that we were from the egroups, and he remembered! I asked him whether he received Vijay’s mail, and he told me, “Yeah…how do you know him?” I told him that we are all friends and a part of the group. Nikhil requested him to give his email so that we could keep in touch with him. But, he refused as usual with a smile, saying that he didn’t read his emails.
He was tired and was in a hurry, so he left without much haste and told us that he would keep in touch with the group. One sad thing was that they did not allow us to take photos. It was a golden opportunity to take photos with ARR, but the security was strict. I hope so!
Now, that’s what I call a true Legend – down-to-earth, soft-spoken, humble, honest, and genuine. God bless this humble soul, and 3 cheers for our group. Let’s all get together and meet frequently. It’s a nice way to interact and enhance our contacts. It’s a fabulous group, so let’s all take advantage of it!
Truly, we should thank TOI and Planet M for making this event possible, especially by inviting ARR to Mumbai. I’ll never forget this day. I have realized that ARR is genuinely a global figure and has admirers from all corners of the world. People respect him so much, yet he is still that simple and cool guy, undeterred by his international status. But my wish to take a snap with him still remains unfulfilled.
But what more could I ask for? I saw him in flesh and blood in front of me, and I shook hands with him!!! This moment will always remain as a fresh picture in my memory till I live with his music!
So finally, I have started believing that “Dreams do come true, and surely when they are Bombay Dreams.
