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Mangalore : Audience Go Gaga at High Voltage Usha Uthup Show
Pics by Dayananda Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network (FR)
Mangalore, Dec 21: Nothing could derail the ‘Ekta Express–Kashmir to Kanyakumari' the high voltage musical show of the inimitable queen of Indian pop music Usha Uthup as she belted out songs after songs in her steely voice which resonated from all corners of the huge St Aloysius College Centenary Ground. The entertainer that she is it turned out to be a memorable event as the audience went gaga when Didi sang in most of the Indian languages on her way to create a new record of sort in the coastal belt of Mangalore.
Even light showers of rain at the end, did not stop her from setting another record, that is, singing in the 19th Indian language when she sang the Tulu song “Ekka Saka, Ekka Saka from the movie Koti Chennayya, much to the delight of the assembled crowd. The drizzling came at the wrong time, almost at the fag end of the show unsettling the crowd, some of whom were forced to leave. However a majority who did not budge reciprocated Usha Uthup’s efforts to sing in Tulu as they listened to her in rapt attention, many of them covering their heads with the chairs meant for sitting. In the absence of musicians who were forced to pack off due to unexpected showers it was Maand Sobhann Gurkar Eric Ozario who helped Usha with her Tulu song much to the appreciation of the assembled gathering.
So the Ekta Express Kashmir to Kanyakumari moved on without any glitches starting from Kashmir making a final halt in our own Kudla as the organizers were forced to forsake may be a song or two to bring the Express directly to Mangalore. The symbolic train Ekta Express was flagged off by Bank of Maharashtra Chairman and Managing Director Allen C A Pereira, to give a robust start to the musical show that went on a unique musical journey of India. Suffice it to say this mega musical show lived up to the expectations of the people who had gathered in large number at the St Aloysius College Centenary ground for the show that commenced at 5.30 pm.
And for the next three and half hours (that included the elaborate stage programme and dance numbers from cultural troupes) Usha didi as she is popularly called regaled the audience with nearly 25 songs singing in various Indian languages including an English song keeping in tune with the theme of the show of spreading peace and harmony among the people across the nation. She started with Raghupathi Raghava and after the Tulu song the mega musical show came to a grand finale with the song Sare Jahan Se Achha.
It is her very presence that sends the audience into rapture as didi clad in Silk saree, with the trademark coin size bindi shimmering on her huge forehead, jumkas dangling from her ears, jasmines never to miss its place in her mane, glass bangles adorning her left hand and the watch on her right wrist and the chasma that gives a distinct personality to her, Usha has won fan following all over the country among the young and the old. One can but admire the booming voice and the stamina she exudes as she doles out song one after another without a break with the same energy and enthusiasm she exhibits at the beginning of the show. Of course one cannot deny it is her strength which has established her as a singer of repute.
Despite singing in languages which the audience are not familiar with there was never a dull moment, be it singing those famous Hindi numbers - Hare Rama Hare Krishna “Dum Maro Dum” “Dosto se pyar Kiya” or Ramba ho ho Hari om Hari or the songs of other North Indian languages. The Usha Uthup Expres began its arduous journey from Kanyakumari came down to Uttar Pradesh, traversed through Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, Chattisgarh, Orissa, Haryana, Panjab, Rajasthan, Gujarath Maharashtra before sliding down to the south through Goa, Andhra, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Karnataka as Usha sang songs in the languages of all these states and finally the train had to halt in Mangalore.
She sang the song immortalized by Dr Rajkumar “Huttidare Kannada Naadinalli Huttabeku”, and sent sparks among the crowd when she sang of Chris Perry’s “Novro Muzo Porthugala thavn….” As is typical of Usha Uthup she intercepted her singing to goad on the audience every now and then to sing along with her or to encourage and show their appreciation with a thunderous applause and the willing audience obliged. She never failed to say “I love you all” repeatedly to keep the audience in good humour. She changed the lyrics of Dosto se pyar kiya to suit the occasion saying “Maand Sobhan se Bahut pyar Kiya or Bank of Maharashtra se Pyar kiya” thus giving the audience a glimpse of her versatility.
Usha was assisted in the mega musical show by internationally acclaimed musicians from Kolkotta. But for their cooperation the show could not have been a success and Usha was modest enough to acknowledge their contribution towards the show. The musicians were Tapan Roy Choudhary, Amar Roy, Nepal Shaw, Raja Dev, B Chatterjee and Sanjay. The programme was compered by Harish Bhimani of Mahabarata fame and his voice resembled that of Amit Sahani of Binaka Geethmala fame. Co-anchor Vidya Dinkar enlivened the show with her style and eloquence.
To break monotony various dance troupes of the city presented dances of different regions symbolizing the motto of Ekta Express – Spreading peace and harmony throughout the length and breath of the country. There was Manipuri dance Dol Chalo, the baila dance, the bhangra, filmy dance numbers and regional dances showcasing the diverse and rich cultural heritage of our country.
The success of the mega musical show is certainly another feather in the cap of Maand Sobhan, the premier Konkani cultural organization which has been working incessantly to preserve and promote Konkani language and culture. It created history of sort in 2008 in the form of “Konkani Niranthari”, to find a place in Guinness Book of World Records.
The occasion proved to be a perfect venue for Maand Sobhan to make a historic announcement on the occasion. As part of its silver jubilee year in 2010, Maand Sobhan Gurkar Eric Ozario announced the decision to organize World Konkani Cultural Convention from November 29 to December 23 next year, to showcase the rich and diverse Konkani culture to the discerning public. The theme of the convention will be “celebrating cultural unity through diversity” and it is going to be another major event from Maand Sobhan which is sure to go a long way in leaving an indelible mark in the history of Konkani culture.
Bank of Maharashtra was the major sponsor of the Musical show. NRI Entrepenuer Ronald Colaco was the co-sponsor. Udayavani was the media sponsor. Daijiworld.com was the official web partner of the event. While Big FM was the Radio Partner, Airtel was the Telecom partner of the mega musical event.
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