The music season is in full swing in Chennai drawing crowds as usual more to the canteens than to concerts. The audience is a mix comprising rasikas who are well versed in the intricacies of the art and ‘rasikas’ who may not claim any knowledge but appreciate the art irrespective of the caliber of the musician. They are justified in attending concerts because they believe ignorance is bliss but the heartening side is they add to the statistics where the musicians can take pride in performing to a full house and rejoice in the ovation that comes by.
I must confess we belong to the second category, however with a brighter side to it which is, a liberal dose of pretence added to justify our presence in the first row. The free concerts during the day has again a judicious mix of audience, some snoring away in airconditioned comfort unmindful of the neighbours who resign to their ‘fate’ of having them by their side. They console themselves that it’s better compared to someone talking on their mobile!
It was one of those days when I decided to join my husband a couple of hours later during the day concert and found it difficult to locate where he was sitting in the large auditorium that was packed to the brim. I searched and searched from a vantage point, looking out for a balding head but realized there were dozens of them in the audience and surprisingly all looking alike. Probably there is some consistency and uniformity in the stages of baldness, I thought.
I decided to wait until the concert was over and the audience were heading towards the canteen for their tea but failed to spot my husband in the crowd.
I next walked towards the canteen and there he was at the ticket counter collecting two coupons for coffee looking sheepishly at me! I realized it was easy for him to locate a red head than me identifying a balding head amidst several similar others!
n.meera raghavendra rao
There is an advantage in a bald head sitting in the row in front, as the head does not much obstruct your vision of the artists! I would hate to have a head like that of the cricket star Ishant Sharma in the front row. If that happens, you might as well close your eyes and pretend to listen intently!!
Past few days I have been listening to concerts with my eyes closed (not for the reason you think) and found ‘rasikas’ tripping over my feet and the ones in the rear knocking off my hairdo and not having the courtesy to apologize!
Good post based on a credible life experience!
TtHANKS