27 July 2010

When I walked into KFC...

Strolled into one of my favourite fast-food joints, KFC the other day and was pleasantly surprised to find a physically challenged young man eagerly taking orders at the counter. Since the boy couldn’t speak, he welcomed all the customers with a pleasant smile! With a special menu card at his disposal, he clarified in sign language, which items to include. He was fast and prompt with taking down the orders, delivering the food and finally with clearing off our bills.

Once my bill was cleared, I wanted to specially thank him and say a few words of encouragement - but realised right then as well that he didn’t require any - for he isn’t anyone special but just one of us….probably only doing his job with little more alacrity and enthusiasm!

20 July 2010

Tagore redefined.....and how!

Music is an extension of us - it defines and delineates our senses, our emotions and our feelings. Kolkata, presents a very colourful and thriving hotbed for musicians and their experiments with music. Someplace Else the rocking pub on Park Street is one such address for music lovers. It is said that at Someplace, it’s often not the booze that draws crowds but the many famed live bands and crooners who grace its mini podium every week. Be it Krosswinds’ melodious rock or now the soulful renditions of singers like Arunima, Someplace remains a much sought after pub till date.

My recent sojourn to this mecca of music proved rather disappointing though. For reasons of propriety I would like to keep anonymous the names of the musicians who were there that day, propagating their brand of music. They had translated some of Tagore’s most memorable compositions to English and sang (read ‘twanged’) them with utter gusto. While some listened rapt, most others felt restless and decided to take a break from this very unique musical experiment.

Not sure why a couple of noted singers would carry on such experiments with music to pay tribute to the bard from Bengal and that too at a venue where rock and blues still rules!