Retrieved via the Wayback Machine. Originally posted by Peter Griffin

Unlike the heretic in the previous post, I love Indian Ocean. There’s a depth and uniqueness to their that makes Rabbi sound downright pedestrian. And I planned my evening so I’d get there just in time for Rahul, Amit, Asheem and Susmit at 8.30 p.m., as per the schedule.

So, there I was at Horniman Circle, for Unspoken Dialogues, directed by Alyque Padamsee. The place was packed, people standing at the sides, sitting on the grass in front. By the time I got in, I could seem someone on stage who seemd to be dropping papers a lot, and dislodging his lapel mike. But I think I’ll leave the detailed review to Yazad, who was Not Pleased At All, and has promised to post later today or tomorrow morning.

Which leaves me with just one little snippet - while the post-performance Q&A was happening (and just before the discussion on stray dogs, which one of the Dialogues referred to) a friendly local bitch and her two half-grown pups made a quiet entry, stage right, and generally made themselves comfortable, hogging the limelight, to many grins from the audience. Enthu production crew type chap came by to shoo them away. And was followed into the aisles by an Angry Lady. I had just moved to that side of the audience to take a few pictures, so was in close range to hear:

Angry Lady (stage whisper): If I see you kick a dog again, I will report you to the SPCA!
Production Chap (stage whisper): But I didn’t kick the dog!
AL (stage whisper): I saw you! I will report you!
PC (stage whisper): But but but

AL (stage whisper): I will get you arrested!
PC (forgetting to stage whisper): But but
PC’s colleague, PC 2, who has seen the little drama unfold from afar, in calm, soothing voice: What’s the trouble madam?
AL: He kicked the dog! I will get him put in jail!

By this time, checking my phone, which had been off during the performances, for voicemails, found one that told me that the order of performances at Azad Maidan has changed, and Indian Ocean was well into their set. With a twinge of regret, I abandoned the finale of the most dramatic, gritty, realistic performance of the evening, hied me to a cab and got myself to the biggest dustbowl in South Bombay. Just in time to hear Indian OCean announce that for their last song, they would be joined by Rabbi.

Gah.

Ah well. One song better than none.

Then I decided to stay on to see what this Rabbi chap was all about. While the band was tuning up, I messaged a pal to whine about missing IO. She sent back a consoling message: “not to worry. IO good. there’ll be many more chances to see them. Rabbi flavour-of-the-month and you probably won’t get to see him again.”

Anyway. Rabbi. Dark glasses. Smooth suit. Nice voice. Knows how to get the crowd involved. I liked his Bulla Ki Jana Main Kaun. Found the rest of it just straight, uninspired rock that happens to have Punjabi lyrics. Nothing special about the at all. Dilip, apologies to your lovely family, but, old chap, nyaaah, not a patch on IO.

As I worked my way out, planning to head home, I bumped into former colleague and old pal who is now Very Important and Cool Dude at a certain channel. Success, said the VI&CD, has gone to Rabbi’s head. He used to just come on, dressed in [I forget the word, something to do with traditional Punj attire], and stand there and play and sing. Now, he’s got the suit, the shades, rock star posturing. at which point Rabbi obligingly illustrated my friend’s point by leaning backwards, guitar stem raised, in classic axeman fashion, as he played some apparently difficult chord.

Oh well. A Cannon pau bhaji and lassi later, I had company for the train ride home: Vivin Mathew Easo, buddy since college years, fellow theatre lover and a wonderful chap to argue with. Viv has done far, far more with his theatre bug than I have (more about that in another post), and was one of the actors performing at Horniman Circle, so, like old times, I got the behind-the-scenes stories and we dissected the perfomances. And we finalised things for tomorrow (argh, make that today, I better sleep), where he and his team are collaborating with Caferati on our evening at Kala Ghoda.

[Will add some pictures later. Tomorrow.]