Wednesday, March 14, 2007

The Last Prestige!


As I write this my mind is pretty much in a confused mess. Its almost 5 AM in the morning and my mind is wandering.....

Today was a special day, my last dance performance at Netaji Auditorium. Many a times have a been up there but today a different feeling was gushing through. That stage is something I will never forget. Its been witness to five golden years of my life. It has taught me, sometimes even mocked me! Today, I am happy. I feel at rest now.

This year we thought of a totally different theme for the inter-hall choreography event. We depicted the life of a mentally challenged boy who became a joker in a circus after being shunned by society. The story unfolded with this boy finally being forced to do a dare-devil circus act on being bound by a promise to his mentor and guide who is a joker at the circus. The entire theme revolved around the life behind the mask of a joker- a joker who is born to make people laugh and who eventually dies the death of an unknown man. This is his life. This is the cruel world he lives in - the world where everyone is a joker.

Its amazing how a 15 minute dance requires at least 15 days of immense effort of no less than 50 people. Now when I think of the times that I used to make my juniors practice, I can remember how they used to plead to let them go when it was around 3 in the morning, how I stood there manning the entrance to the common room, how I used to suddenly burst out when even a single person was missing, how I used the combo of sento and tempo to get the best out of them and how they used to respond sometimes with complete silence and other times with utter commotion. They took all of that. I can only but think how they must have been cursing me then. Some of my batchmates even wondered what drove me to be insane enough to slog off for an inter-hall event in my super final year. But somehow I didnt care as much to even think about it. I just dont know what drove me. Its like I just wanted to do it. ANd desperately so. But I can definitely say that the amazing response that I received from my batchmates and my juniors was surely motivating enough. I am sure they are as happy as I am now. A well deserved Silver indeed!

This silver is for all those guys who have spent even a second trying to weave the magic that we envisioned. This Silver moment is for -
Abhinav, what would we have done without him. I always banked on him for all the harder steps :) I'm much better with my happy-happy n classical kinda steps.
Vicksy Da - the theme was his brainchild. It all began as a small idea where he suggested we show the parody in a joker's life where he has to make people laugh but he actually wants to cry for what is happening in his own life. The theme went thru zillions of changes before it was finally changed on the 12th hour just a day before the actual event by the same person who conceptualized it! Vicksy da, its always a pleasure to work with a creative genius like you.
Abhiskek Ghosh, aka Dadu, The drams GOD - the funda man behind most of the scenes, my accomplice for the entire crime. His expressions will actually make you wonder if he even was anything other than what he pretented to be.
Mazoom, the singing sensation and drams stud, played a very active role behind the curtains. He was always there when we had r brainstorming sessions to discuss the scenes.
Ravi, the only 4th year on stage! Kudos to you for putting up with my idiosyncrasies.
Tewari (read gtalk stud) and Chirag, my captains and Prakhar & Prerit, who've really made me feel that I can definitely expect some good news next year. Guys I will be waiting!
Jha for his irreplaceable delivery. The words from his mouth seemed to pour straight into the heart.
All the second yrs who did a marvelous job, who practiced painfully day in and day out to make this possible. I hope this legacy continues.
My sets team, AP, Piyush, Ravi, Kalyan, Ratnadeep, and all the others whose names I dont recollect. You truly deserve a greater applause. Who ever said RK mein sets banane mein load hota hai!
My lights team, Harishwar, Praveen, Tanks and the other guys - awesome job. keep the tempo going.
Finally Susti and Rajshekhar - Thank you for everything.

Thank you everyone for making this day special for me.
This moment is for RK! This moment is what will be with me forever!

As much as this may fall on deaf ears it really bothers me how in the midst of competition we have lost the meaning of art, of creativity and appreciation. Kgp is soon loosing the spirit of competition and I foresee a day when the results of every event is decided much before the actual event takes place. Wat's the point of these events then?

Sento, that I am right now, I can say nothing but "Judges please note the empty stage."