A Balamurali Krishna Concert

Yesterday was the much awaited kacheri by Dr.Balamurali Krishna. The scene outside the concert hall was enjoyably chaotic. Young ladies decked out in colorful costumes with sparkly jewelry to match. Even the pleasantly chubby, traditionally build, older women were seen replete with stunning silk saris. The scene was completely captivating to any testosterone overdosed, over-adrenalized male animal. There was a lady, in her mid 30s bathed in flowing silk and glittering gold that made me wonder if she was a maharani or at least a princess from India who just came straight from the SFO airport. For a few precious moments I conveniently pretended to be the old man Salim Ali.

Kacheri began an hour late. Dr.Balamurali Krishna entered the stage dressed like a King! (See the lousy picture I managed to take). He started with a keerthanam in Hamsadhwani. I felt blessed listening to his hauntingly beautiful renditions and his mellifluous voice that serenaded millions of music lovers around the world. The songs were genius and the music was happy and uplifting. I only wish he had sung more Thyagaraja, Deekhithar or Swathithurnal krithis than his own compositions.

On a scale of one to ten I would give him an eleven.

Post Scrip:

There is some thing about our flag. When an organizer unfurled the Indian tricolor and posted a banner adorned with “Vande Mataram", it gave me instant goose bumps.