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I dunno...this whole thing which happened on Sunday...really controlled and manipulated my soul like nothing has done so ever before...It struck a chord with and was in perfect harmony/unison with my soul throughout....It was like as if my soul got all the peace it ever wanted and I was really levitated to some supreme and unworldly state of bliss - somewhere out of this world...To the best of my knowledge, I've heard that once a living being is no more, its soul goes up and away, far beyond the realms & geographical boundaries ...into HEAVEN, where it attains ultimate peace...if it is devoid of all sins...& to hell otherwise...where it never attains peace...

BUT what I experienced yesterday was EXACTLY this ...when I am still alive..:)....Heaven is usually supposed to denote the place where EVERYTHING is beautiful and you CAN'T be ANYTHING else but at your happiest....Well, THAT WAS EXACTLY WHAT YMCA, NANDANAM, CHENNAI WAS, yesterday - HEAVEN!! ...Yuvan Shankar Raja performing there for 5 hours, with some of India's finest talent REALLY made me feel that NOTHING can get more heavenly than that...I'm not sure if anything else can take me to heaven....People usually pray for a dead person's soul to rest in peace....I dunno...I feel my soul has ALREADY attained peace...when I'm still alive...:)...I have already seen heaven when I am still alive...:)....So, if I die, I'm sure my soul will rest in peace, irrespective of where it goes to :) :)...because it ALREADY HAS GOT PEACE & IT HAS ALREADY SEEN HEAVEN...:)...Nothing has satiated & gratified my soul like yesterday's concert...and at this point, I'm not sure if ANYTHING other than another concert from Yuvan...can repeat this for me - levitating my soul to the greatest degree of bliss possible, showing it around heaven and getting it back on earth....Yesterday WAS REAL...I am not hallucinating :)....But it really appeared UNREAL, SURREAL, ETHEREAL...whatever!! IT APPEARED ANYTHING BUT REAL !!!!! IT WAS JUST INCREDIBLY UNBELIEVABLE!!! :) :)

I WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO DESCRIBE IT FURTHER....BECAUSE WORDS OF ANY LANGUAGE WILL FAIL ME...IN DOING JUSTICE....

I know I sound like I'm talking a load of bull-crap :P ...but trust me, I'm not joking...I really feel every bit of what I've typed :)...I know I'm still 23 ...and I ideally have a long life ahead to live...but I don't feel the need to acquire anything MORE to keep me happy...and to keep my soul satisfied...I feel that the fact that I experienced this "feeling"...this "state of mind" - can keep me peaceful & satisfied for eternity...:) :)...through any number of births & deaths...It really doesn't matter anymore whether I go to heaven or hell :)...I'VE ATTAINED DIVINE PEACE - I WILL BE PEACEFUL :)..WHEREVER I GO :)...AND IF I DO END UP GOING TO HEAVEN, I HAVE MY OWN DOUBTS WHETHER THE ACTUAL HEAVEN WILL BE AS HEAVENLY AS THE HEAVEN WHICH YUVAN CREATED YESTERDAY, AT YMCA!! :) :) :) ....I feel very light since yesterday...and I really feel as if I'm floating way above...I dunno how much of a harsh reality it will take for me to come down to Planet Earth...and get my feet on the ground...

People usually make it sound like - this kinda bliss or "salvation" (Lemme be clear - I've read different meanings for salvation...but when I say salvation, I mean - THE ULTIMATE PEACE...THE ULTIMATE BLISS)...is attained usually through stringent meditation & austerities far away in the secluded beautiful areas of nature......But, contrary to the usual....I attained it yesterday because of THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY, THE MOST OUT-OF-THE-WORLD, THE MOST ROCKING, THE MOST KICKED, THE MOST PULSATING, THE MOST LEGENDARY CONCERT EVER!!!!!!!!!! IT WASN'T A CONCERT - IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE - AN ETERNALLY ENCHANTING ONE !!!! I attended the concert ALONE yesterday...I mean, there were obviously tens of thousands of fans apart from me :P :P...I mean, no one from my family or friends accompanied me....BUT IT DIDN'T MATTER :)...I WAS OUT THERE...AND THEN...WAS DRIVEN SOMEWHERE AWAY FROM EARTH :) :)...

So, before I get into the concert details....I'd just like to say it short and simple -

Yuvan announced through Twitter in December, that he would be performing live in concert in Chennai on Jan 16th, in association with Vijay TV...I was performing the last rites of my late father then...The moment I saw this tweet from him, I knew I was going to attend it ...AT ANY COST...I had seen the video of Yuvan's concert in Dubai...and I knew I would have an AWESOME time in Chennai....The Dubai concert was awesome...but at that point, I felt it still didn't beat any of AR Rahman's concerts....Nevertheless, me being a die-hard Yuvan fan, I decided that I'm gonna attend this for sure...I immediately got my tickets to Chennai booked...

I would've gone ANYWHERE to attend this concert - even the Himalayas or Kanyakumari or Antarctica....and I would've paid ANY AMOUNT...to attend this!! Soon enough, there was LOADS of SEVERE HYPE leading up to the concert - Yuvan's own album...Vijay TV's MASSIVE promotion, showcasing a 16-episode series hosted by RJ Shiva...describing Yuvan's journey in Kollywood...Every bit of promotion stirred up the expectations and eagerness more and more...

Soon enough, it was time for the concert tickets/passes....In an announcement which surprised the nation, Yuvan said that it was gonna be a free concert...Getting passes was gonna be a SUPER-DAUNTING task for people, especially those outside Chennai....BUT THANKS TO GOD, I COUNT MYSELF THE MOST-BLESSED, MOST-FORTUNATE PERSON TO HAVE GOTTEN A BROWN PASS...for this concert.....Thanks to Yuvan himself and Mr.Prasanna, for arranging for my pass...

It was time....I left for Chennai....and on the day, I headed to YMCA, Nandanam...I had to walk at least half a kilometer inside the gate to reach the ground...I reached the ground ...People were waiting in queues in each zone, to enter inside...It was about 5 pm...I hadn't taken my camera :-/...as there were instructions on the pass, that cameras were prohibited...However, I took my camera phone...

I was waiting in my queue...I could hear rehearsals going on - the theme of 7G Rainbow Colony being played on the grand piano, Yuvan testing the mikes by singing a few lines from "Iragai Pole"...On the pass, it was mentioned that people would be let in at 6 pm...But we were let in at 5 pm itself....I rushed ahead to catch a good seat in my zone...My zone was the farthest from the stage...but I managed to catch a seat close to the food-stall and from where the view of the stage was nice...The stage WAS ROCKING !!!!! - REALLY TOO SUPER-AWESOME!!!!!! OH-SO-DAZZLING AND APPEALING !!!

I was in the zone with the most LOCAL crowd..:) :)...the crowd started pouring in...It was really a much bigger crowd than the ARR concert I had been to....Local aa sollanum na "maarana mass!! Tharu maaru!!" :)....Soon enough, random whistles were heard all over the audience...who were getting more impatient by the minute :)...Sound-checks were going on, with 7G rainbow theme & Kanaa Kaanum Kaalangal....I bought a veg. puff, a sandwich & a packet of Lays to munch....The giant screens started playing ...Unfortunately, someone in the sound control unit was caught unawares...He was adjusting his pants...and that was seen on the giant screen! :D ..much to the loud howls from the audience...All the sponsors' advertisements were played on the screen...including the trailer of Siruthai...much to the screams of the audience, on seeing Karthi...

1. At 6.50 pm, Isaignani Illayaraja appeared on the screen, much to the loud howling of the audience...He spoke for a few minutes, thanking the audience for accepting Yuvan just like they accepted him...

2. After that, it was Simbhu who appeared on screen - this time, one really heard

a roar from the crowd...Simbhu announced that he won't be able to come...and started a countdown...for Yuvan's entry...The whole of YMCA counted - 10, 9, 8....The lights were off...The stage was lit up in blue...

3. Yuvan's voice was heard - "Ulagamellam Unadhallava..." ...He sang the first few lines of his album song "I'll be there for you"...and then made aMichael Jackson-esque entry with "Neethaane" ...The crowd went berserk...and started running towards the stage...As usual, the Tamil Nadu police could do little to control the crowd :)...I went in 2 zones ahead...:P :P...I had a much closer, better view of the stage....."Neethaane" is my ALL-TIME FAVORITE SONG...and to see Yuvan singing it live, RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY OWN EYES - There's were salvation began :)...It was so unreal, unbelievable...:)...I was entranced, transfixed in awe & amazement...

4. Yuvan then said "Ennikume appa sollirkaru...concert odu first singer vandhu..romba nalla playback singer aa irukkanum nu...so..ippo naan oru legendary singer aa koopdaporen"...A random humming was heard...RJ Shiva made his entry, much to the laughter of the crowd...There was a small funny banter between him and Yuvan...Finally...

Shankar Mahadevan made his entry on stage with "Nimirndhunil" from Saroja...The whole crowd was up, standing on their chairs and grooving to the power-packed beats...Shankar Mahadevan, as usual, was FLAWLESS AND IMPECCABLE IN HIS PERFORMANCE...He's a LEGEND...

5. Vijay Jesudas came in along with Premji and a female singer to sing a song from "Pudhupettai" - "Pul Pesum"...this was not good...The crowd was rather silent for this one...

6. The crowd was back to its whistling and howling spree when Yuvan sang "Thakkuthey" from "Baana Kaathaadi"...It's a very groovy song...and had the crowd clapping & moving..:)

7. Director Vishnuvardhan came in, thanked Yuvan and said that it was the song "Thee Pidikka" which gave him an identity...Premji and Suvi sang this number next...I couldn't see this one properly...as most of my attention was directed towards Chennai police mamas "proving their worth" by lathi-charging & kicking people who jumped across the zone barricades...The crowd was ORDERED to sit down...HELL !! You have one of the most peppy numbers playing...and you expect the crowd to sit on their seats and listen in attention like school children in a classroom??

But, looking at it from their side, it was their job! They were doing what they could to control the crowd.

8. Javed Ali and Madhumitha came in and touched the audience with their intense, highly involved rendition of Siragugal from Sarvam...one of Yuvan's best romantic duets which has won accolades & appeal from every corner of the universe...Javed's improvised Aalaaps at the end were AMAZING and left people gasping for breath...

9. Venkat Prabhu came in, followed by the rest of Yuvan's family - Karthik Raja, Bavatharini & Premji...They were talking about their favorite songs of Yuvan...Karthik Raja sang a few lines of "Where's the party"...Bavatharini sang "Pesugiren"...Venkat Prabhu sang some song which I don't remember ...But man, he has an AWESOME voice!! Premji said that his favorite was a yet-to-be released one from "Mankatha"...The crowd immediately howled "Thalaaaaaaa!!"...Then, they sang their family song - "Elelu thalaimurai"...the koothu dance in the audience began...

10. The dancing became widespread - EVERYONE in the audience started dancing & grooving to the famous dance steps of "Kodana Kodi" from "Saroja"...This was the FIRST number which everyone in the audience HEARTILY enjoyed !!!

11. A contest winner, Ronaldo got the chance to sing a song along with Yuvan on stage - He started speaking in English...Shiva made fun of him and asked him to speak in Tamil, much to the whistles of the local crowd...Hesang "Idhu Kadhala" from "Thulluvatho Ilamai"...He sang it REALLY WELL !! The crowd applauded in agreement...and then howled when Yuvan started singing few lines of the same...

12. It was then director Ameer's turn to come on stage...He came and thanked Yuvan from the bottom of his heart in a very touching manner, citing that Yuvan didn't accept a single pie for the music of Raam. Ameer said that finding a human being as great as Yuvan was very very rare. "Chance aae illa!", he said. He also said that, with such a humongous, massive fan following...he was scared Yuvan might enter politics and become the CM someday, much to the roar of the crowd !! He said, YMCA really resembled a political party meet...than a concert !!

Shreya Ghoshal entered the stage and sang "Ayyayo" from "Paruthi Veeran"...Well, I have no words!! The only option I have is to use "Shreya Ghoshal" as an adjective and say - it was a Shreya Ghoshal performance!! :) :) :)

13. Next was "Irava pagala" from "Poovellam Kettuppaar". The audience was calming down with each slow duet being sung...and they enjoyed the feel :)

14. After that was a surprise visitor - one of my favorite directors, the director of my all-time favorite movie Minnale - Goutham Menon....He said that it was great of Yuvan to connect to his fans through such a concert...he said that himself and Surya were glued to Yuvan's songs during the making of "Kaakha kaakha"....He also said he's a huge fan of "Iragai Pole" & "Pogaadhey"...Shiva asked him - "Sir..Harris Jayaraj oda work pannirkenga..AR Rahman oda work pannirkenga..Yuvan oda eppo sir work panna porenga??"...The crowd hooted...He said - "Kandippa ...Yuvan otthukittarna avaroda work panna virumbaren"...Shiva said - "Sir..apdiye..naan oru hero ready aa irukken"...and had the audience in splits...

15. It was a switch to slow, sad songs mode...as Yuvan effortlessly sang "Pogaadhey"...It was MARVELOUS AND HEART-WRENCHING...I called up Sundar at this point ...and being the useless fellow that he is ( :P :P...kidding macha :) )...he didn't pick up the phone ....

16. Javed Ali and Bela Shende came on stage ...and much to MY delight, sang one of Arun CS' and my favorite Yuvan songs - Chinnan Sirisu...:) :)...It was a surprise, unexpected inclusion...but a pleasant one!! :) ...It was SUCH A PLEASURE...watching the singers perform this live...:)...I called up Arun CS at this point...and he too didn't pick up! :-/

17. Yuvan then said his close friend wasn't there and that he would sing the song instead of him...he imitated Simbhu, much to the delight of the audience and then sang "Loose Penne"...

18. Then came THE BIGGEST SURPRISE OF THE SHOW - A DRAMATIC ENTRY FROM SIMBHU from the crowd to the stage...THE CROWD ROARED LIKE ANYTHING...I was STUNNED IN DISBELIEF...IT WAS SIMPLY OH-SO-BRILLIANT !!!!!!! THE CROWD GREW VERY VERY EXUBERANT AND HAPPY....

Shiva, Yuvan and Simbhu were talking ...when the crowd started ROARING "Vaanam! Vaanam! Vaanam!"....Yuvan then said "This is not in the script...we're doing this impromptu"

19. Yuvan started "Oh baby I feel like flying.."..THE WHOLE CROWD EXPLODED !!!!!!! ERUPTED !!!!!!!! YMCA CHANGED INTO A VOLCANO !!!!! THE CROWD ROARED LIKE NEVER BEFORE !!!!! EVERY ONE IN THE AUDIENCE WAS UP ON THEIR CHAIRS, UNCONTROLLABLY ROARING !!!!!! IT WAS THE LOUDEST EVER ROAR I HAD HEARD IN LIFE ....AND IT WAS THE LOUDEST EVER I HAD ROARED IN LIFE !!!!!! MY THROAT GREW DRY AFTER THIS !!!!!!

20. The crowd then calmed down...with Karthik making his entry ...singing "Kanpesum vartheygal" from 7G...

21. Director Lingusamy came on stage and after a brief speech on Yuvan....Haricharan and Tanvi entered and sang "Thuli thuli" from "Paiya"....Haricharan started thanking Yuvan in english...Yuvan said - "Tamil", much to the howls from the local crowd...

22. Actor Jiva & Lyricist Na.Muthukumar came on to the stage and showered their praise & gratitude for Yuvan...and highlighted what an impact his music has had on their careers...:)

Then came one of Yuvan's CAREER-BEST SONGS ...LIVE...right in front of my eyes - "Oru Kal" :)...It was heart-wrenching ...very very touching....this CEMENTED Yuvan's place in my heart as THE BEST PERFORMER I'VE EVER SEEN...Yuvan's stage presence is UNPARALLELED ...to say the least...This was immediately followed with a minute of "Oru paarvayil"

23. Shankar Mahadevan & Bela Shende followed it up with an IMPECCABLE AND OUTSTANDINGLY BRILLIANT rendition of "Merke merke" from "Kanda Naal Mudhal"...

24. So far...I've spoken about Salvation :P....BUT THERE WAS EXTREME SALIVATION AS WELL :P :P :P ...from all the hundreds & thousands of PORUKKEE LOCALS (me included :P)....as Andrea made her way to the stage ...along with Ajeesh....People stared open-mouthed in awe...not knowing what to admire Andrea for - her oh-so-sexy looks (local aa sollanum na semma figure machi!! :P :P) or her amazingly incredible voice ...as she started off with "Idhu Varai"...towards the latter half of the song....it was all Ajeesh's show...THIS WAS ONE OF THE STAND-OUT PERFORMANCES in the concert...VERY MEMORABLE!! :) ...AUDIO-WISE AS WELL AS VISUALLY TREATING ( :P :P :P :P ).....This concert had awesome chicks ;) - Andrea, Shreya Ghoshal, Tanvi Shah...all looking awesome ;)...If there were no male singers there...Anyone would've mistaken it for a fashion show...;) ;)..

Anyways...."Idhu varai" was IMMEDIATELY followed with Yuvan's rendition of "Kaadhal Endraal"...leading to HUGE DECIBEL LEVELS in the audience....AND THE DECIBEL LEVELS HIT THEIR PEAK....AS YUVAN SANG THE LINE "PENNAI NAMBAADHE"!!!! :) :)....THAARU MAARU...GETHU !!!!! ....Goes to show that there are LOADS of guys like me who've been deceived that way..:) :)....

Actor Jai walked into the stage...having the audience chuckling when he said - "Ellarukkum Tamil la thaan pesanum nu sollaraanga..aana enakku mattum English la thaan pesanum nu sollaraanga"...He then enacted as Yuvan sang "Idhu varai" again...Shiva said - "Enna kodumai sir idhu?", having the audience scream!

25. After this was the symphony orchestra performing the 7G Rainbow Colony theme...Shreya Ghoshal came in to sing "Ninaithu ninaithu", much to the audience getting touched...At this point, I got the chance to go forward...near the giant screen & very near the stage :) :)....I had my dinner - a Veg burger & French fries from the Marybrown stall...

26. Harish Raghavendra walked in...and said that...if he hadn't been called as a singer...he would've surely been among the audience cheering for Yuvan...He sang "Devathaiye Kanden" brilliantly!! NOT AS GOOD AS OUR VERY OWN RAASA aka Vivek THOUGH :P :P :P hehe

27. Surya appeared on the screen...talking about his experiences with Yuvan...and then after this

28. THEN CAME THE SHOW-STEALER...WHICH LEFT EVERYONE IN A TRANCE, GASPING FOR BREATH FOR LONG...EVERYONE WAS STUNNED IN SILENCE MORE THAN SCREAMING IN AWE....

Yuvan performed a dare-devil stunt !!!!!!!!! He was lifted HIGH and suspended by a crane ...and was flying over the crowd ....and then as he landed on the stage, Iragai Pole began !!!!! THE CROWD HOWLED AS MUCH AS THEY DID FOR "Evan di unna petthaan"....He sang the whole song with UNMATCHED ELAN......THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST LOOKED-FORWARD-TO SONGS IN THE CONCERT...:) :).....Towards the end of the song, Yuvan DANCED !!!!!!!!!

Believe me, he can give Hrithik serious competition !!!!!!! IT WAS AN ALL-ROUND SHOW OF UNATTAINABLE BRILLIANCE - stunts, singing, dancing......NO ONE KNEW THAT YUVAN WAS MULTI-FACETED ...UNTIL YESTERDAY!!!!!!

29. Arya came on to the stage ...to speak about his association & friendship with Yuvan...

this was followed by Karthik singing "Thathithavum paper" from "Boss engira Bhaskaran"

30. The WHOLE OF YMCA WAS BACK TO DANCING AGAIN...as Shankar Mahadevan dished out Vethaleya Potendi....this was followed by the ENTIRE CHENNAI-28 TEAM...singing and dancing along to "Jalsa Pannungada"...

THERE WASN'T A SINGLE PERSON ON YMCA WHO WASN'T DANCING..(Yup..I too was :) )...2-3 year old kids & children were seen dancing on the giant screen....

31. Kalyan master & the guy who introduced Yuvan - T.Siva, producer of the movie "Aravindhan" for which Yuvan first scored music...at the age of 16....said that when he approached Ilayaraja to make this deal, he said - "Ivanukku evalo music theriyum nu theriyaadhu...aanaa onnu mattum solluven - Yuvan aa arimuga paduthinadhukku nee ennikaavdhu nichyama peruma paduve!!" ...The audience unanimously applauded...

32. This was followed by Yuvan's most cheerful performance - "Oru naalil" from "Pudhupettai"...the crowd sang along ...showing their love...

33. THE BIGGEST SURPRISE OF THE CONCERT AFTER SIMBHU....WAS ISAIGNANI ILLAYARAJA MAKING HIS ENTRY ON STAGE...TO A STANDING OVATION...

He did an unplugged, impromptu English song with Yuvan...much to the AMAZEMENT & AWE OF THE AUDIENCE...It was a priceless moment - father & son stealing the stage...

Ilayaraja sang "Ariyaadha vayasu" from "Paruthi Veeran"...and had a comical banter with Yuvan & Ameer following that...

34. THE CONCERT ENDED WITH ALL THE SINGERS COMING ON THE STAGE TO SING "WHERE'S THE PARTY" from "Silambattam"...YUVAN & PREMJI WALKED THE RAMP...UP TO THE AUDIO CONTROL UNIT...& GOT BACK...

It was 12 am by the time the concert ended....5 HOURS !!!! NON-STOP !!!!!!!

I NEVER REALIZED, AS I'M SURE NO ONE WOULD'VE....HOW TIME FLEW !!!!!!!

I COULD'VE STAYED ON YMCA FOREVER....ANYONE WOULD'VE !!!!!

I ended up shelling 200 for an auto-ride back home...

ANYWAYS...TO SUM UP....IT WAS WORTH EVERY SINGLE RUPEE & TIME & ENERGY I SPENT ...COMING ALL THE WAY FROM BANGALORE...TO YMCA ....TO SEE THE MOST GRANDILOQUENT SPECTACLE EVER!!!!!!

I think I've written enough....I'll just end by saying that...though my body & mind are now back in Bangalore...my HEART & SOUL SHALL REST AT YMCA, NANDANAM...COZ IT IS OVER THERE THAT...BOTH FIND THE ULTIMATE, UNMATCHED PEACE...:)

Photos & Videos shall come soon...in another post :)