Truly Unforgettable !

What an experience. Exhilarating, amazing and exhausting. And really Unforgettable! My voice is still down with all the shouting and cheering.

True to Indian tradition, evening started an hour late, resulting in 15000-20000 capacity Oracle Arena being surrounded with long queues of admirers. What surprised me was the eclectic mix of audience, people from 8 till 80, and a healthy mix of nationalities from India, Pakistan, Gulf, host of other Asian countries, Mexicans, and yes Americans too.... Nevertheless we were inside , and seated.

Show started with Reteish Deshmukh. A much better personality off screen, he set the tone, followed by Preity, Aishwarya`s performance, and Abhishek`s surprise entry among the audience. By this time things have gathered real momentum. Almost everyone was on their feet. But we all were waiting for the big one...Big B himself.

And once clippings of Amitabh started on screen, showing his different tours across the world, the crazy hysteria he generates across continents,there was a silence...of that before the storm. And then Big B appeared. Claps, whistles, cheers, shouts, you name it. Imagine 20000 deafening your ears in unison.

For me, I was just stunned. It was that rare schoolboy moment where you see your hero, someone who has had such a strong impact on your psyche for all of your adolescent life. Wish I was nearer to stage !

Another hysteria was to follow once Madhuri came on stage , starting with ek, do teen, and almost making every single individual member in audience shake a leg or two.Other highlights of the evening were Being Amitabh section, where Abhishek peformed on Khaike paan, and Reteish on Jumma. Followed by 'Dola Re' on Aishwarya and Madhuri.

And the best was saved for last. Amitabh`s recital of his famous dialogues from Agneepath, Deewar,Kabhi Kabhie, Silsila etc. Even though we all have heard them 1000 times, there was a pin drop silence in the otherwise boisterous arena while he was enacting them, and it was a sheer joy to hear it all live....'Khush to bahut hoge tum'!

And you must have guessed, it ended with Kajrare, which provided such a fitting climax for an exciting show.

While I was driving back to my home at 1:30 in night, wishing that I could get one pic with him, I got a call from a friend, fellow IBMer.
'Come to Marriott. They are staying here and coming anytime'.

Drove faster, breaking all speed limits in sight ( yes, inspite of getting a speeding ticket recently :), and reached there. Throngs of people outside the gate,waiting for them to come back......Alas they made an entry through back gate! If only everything had a perfect ending.

Nevertheless , khush to bahut hoon main:)