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M. Lalitha and M. Nandini presenting transglobal fusion music at the inaugural of Saarang 2002.

WHOOOPS! WE'RE already an hour late as we rush into the gate at the inaugural pro-show of Saarang as the chilly winds of the woods welcome the visitors. Flashing invites, we zip across watchfully, catching a glimpse of deer running across the roads.

Now, that's like the old IIT we know. What were new were the glow boards dipped in cola commerce that shone brightly and increased security to ensure motorists inside the campus had their dipper lights on.

So far so good. We hit G.C. (Gajendra Circle) and are directed to the parking lot. Just like last year. Not too many things change at IIT.

Fleeting across the janta strolling around the super clean campus soaked in banners, we rush into OAT, to be frisked for cigarettes and alcohol. Neat! The same old ``high-security'' zone.

So we are finally there, at the OAT. One hour and fifteen minutes after the scheduled start of the show. Nothing had started. The curtain, still down. The same old IST!

We continued to wait with the rest of the crowd, largely of the sober variety--for the first concert featuring violinists Lalitha and Nandini was purely for those with a taste of classical music and transglobal fusion music, or so we thought then.

It was around eight when the dignitaries for the evening took the stage, and got started with the routine rituals--lighting the lamp, speeches about how `Saarang' encourages ``budding talent'', the hard work behind the scenes and licence to have ``fun''.

The Director M.S.Ananth admitting that the fest was a welcome break for the staff too said that the students could have ``fun'' but, with a couple of strings attached: one, no cigarettes allowed and two, drive carefully and ensure no tragedy mars the celebrations.

A very formal affair indeed...well, almost! Everything that had happened till then was most predictable and almost rehearsed until ``whatever'' happened. And soon, the crowd was rocking in the woods, the bonding, the camaraderie, the cheers, the chants; the festive spirit was surely in the air, thanks to a minor faux paus by the compere that broke the ice.

But that's the real spirit of any festival--laugh at the bloopers, forget, forgive and cherish the celebration that follows.

Full credit to M.Lalitha and M. Nandini who took to the stage, captivating the audience with their dose of classical music, starting off their concert with `Vatapi Ganapathim Baje'. It was the perfect setting for a laid back evening, the healthy appetiser for the fast food and buffet lined up for the next few days.

Half way through the concert, the sisters changed gear (literally) for the global fusion part of their show. Apart from `Thinking of You', the highlights of the show included the `Egyptian Magic' piece that oozed Egyptian flavour pepped up with jazz and a conversation between the violinists and the percussionist.

A `Global Folk' sequence followed blending Irish, American and Indian folk, climaxing with the snake charmer's `Magudi'. The pro-show ended with `Austrian Summer' and it was finally time to go home at 10-30 p.m.

Even those who had planned to leave early stayed back till the end. On Wednesday, the festival got into the thick of regular cultural fest action with outstation participants, multi-venue simultaneous contests, the `informals stalls', the array of food counters, music stalls, sponsors and yes, competition.

But hey, the action has only started with the Shankar Mahadevan pro-show on late Wednesday evening and a line-up of `Euphoria' (January 24) and Parikrama (January 27).

Pay up to get your seats. Because, they say, sponsors this year, weren't much! Dil Maange More?

By Sudhish Kamath

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