You either love Delhi or hate it. Whatever I have seen of it till now is mostly unlovely but fascinating so I am yet undecided. My this time's visit was spectacularly unlovely despite being surrounded and smothered by certified beauty. There were only two patches of sunshine as I call them. Actually three patches. The first was the twinkling, long-lashed beautiful eyes of my little cousin. The second was her quiet brother's quieter love for music, only apparent if you care to glance at his mostly downturned eyes. The third was serendipity of the best kind. Sitting alone in Karnataka Bhavan and twiddling with the remote was getting to me when my hands automatically stopped at DD Bharti. There was, on the screen, Kishore Kumar in his element. Doordarshan was re-telecasting his concert, recorded oh, perhaps three decades ago. Kalyanji-Anandji were conducting the music and there was Kishore playing to the non-existent gallery -- before singing Kora Kagaz, he fished out a blank paper from somewhere; after singing Roop Tera Mastana, he stumbled, as if drunk on his own voice...

His thick spectacles and thicker smile; Kalyanji's obvious enjoyment and embarassment at his antics; the green-red-gray plasticky set; the we-are-happy-to-be-on-tv sincere orchestra...oh it was worth coming all the way. After the concert was over, I switched channels and was promptly back to 'Marjaani Marjaani'. Urgh.

As for the fashion show which actually took me there, well, read the next post! :)

 


Comments

savitha

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 8:31:42 am

Oh, I love Dilli, can't get the city out of my mind right now. Want to go, want to go..Just posted something on my blog...

 

rachna

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 8:26:23 pm

baby, the only nice memories you have of delhi are kishore kumar on doordarshan in karnatak bhavan :( it breaks my heart. i want to be with you when you're there some time to show you the sprawling lawns of india gate where little children come early morning to pick up jamuns from under the trees planted decades back in british perfection. the flame that burns for young lives lost in various wars. the exact architecture of lutyens that is now connaught place. the girija devi-zakir hussain jugalbandis in kamani. the throat scalding golgappas of bengali market...please, please give delhi another chance.

 



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