Expressed!

On the brink of what could be our biggest effort to take theatre to common man, WeMove's new play "P.S I dont love you's" music tracks are ready for release. It took me approximately 8 years of struggle to find trend and fashion into theatre songs. On a lousy afternoon several years ago with no much experience I wrote a play non stop for next 2 days called "Hi, ASL?" A play which never saw the light of any stage, that was when I decided that we needed quality music in theatre. 

WeMove has its own shade of musicians and we have our own experience with music directors, many of them can be regarded as "funny". I can still remember my initial days of director with a person with his huge keyboard and semi professional knowledge he was trying to create tunes, what was then convinced to me as "Music" I was depressed not because the play flopped but my dream of that perfect music was defeated. My search continued, years later when we set out to do "Malgudi days" as a stage play, people laughed more so because of the fact that we could never recreate the magic of L.Vaidynathan. "I know a person" screamed a person before he introduced me to Vasu Dixit. On a sunny afternoon when we were rehearsing for malgudi in Ravindra kalakshetra in bangalore, vasu introduced me to a sleek, shy guy, I remember vasu uttering "Abhishek meet Abhishek" the dud dude in me was confused, while the other one smiled stretching out his hands front. 

"Hi, Abhishek Narain...."

"Oh!" I smiled realizing finally...

Abhishek Narain was there to play guitar for the eternal WeMove tune of Malgudi

"I Hope I can do the justice.." he smiled at me...

He sat there in one corner observing the play with his guitar on his lap, I thought he was this cool dude with a cool instrument in his hand! that day before we could wrap up the rehearsals Narain played the Malgudi tune on his guitar, 2 acoustic guitars, one amazing voice and history in making, I could not believe that my imagination of theatre music was finally taking shape, I was smiling that whole day, perhaps I could term the reason for my smile as "Satisfaction" 

Malgudi daze was first premiered in Seva Sadana, I still remember Abhishek panting in a hurry, he thought he was late for the show! it was just 3 o clock then, Vasu could not make it for the first show but I still remember vasu telling me "Narain is there, you have to shed your tension" 

Of course I was tensed, with my previous directorial venture flopping miserably and what was then regarded as madness to make Malgudi on stage, the last thing I wanted was fresh people whom I haven't known much to play the music, after all music was considered to be the only savior if the play went bad. As the play began and when the those first strings of guitar were plucked, people in the hall gave a standing ovation, that wiped a lot of sweat. "huff!" I sighed.

Abhishek Played to perfection and from there started a journey which in many case is still regarded as a dream! Show after show, Mysore- Chennai-Pune-Hyderbad-Bangalore, Malgudi travlled across India and so was Abhishek's Guitar. Each show there was a improvisation, each show was fresh, the music never seemed old to me, 20 shows later even today I feel the same excitement when I hear Abhishek playing the Malgudi tune.

Back in 2010, riding on the success of Malgudi, We did a play called "Namma Metro" The play was in Kannada, by then Abhishek was the man for any kind of instruments, musicals I meant! he was our guitarist come what may happen, it was time again when I went in search of music director, this time to create the magic in kannada. We were once rehearsing in HN Kalakshetra of bangalore for our play Namma Metro when one of the short film director Abhijith Mahesh dragged me and played a kannada song. Excited by the song I guessed instantly that Abhijit had himself written the song, after a few words of praises and discussions I returned to rehearsals but stopped instantly to ask "Who was the music director?"

Abhijith replied "Our Abhishek Narain"

I was bumped! "But This is Kannada.." I exclaimed...

"He is a genius.." Abhijit replied..

I kept on thinking that whole night.. about the music for Namma Metro, the next day I met Abhishek at my rehearsals at ravindra Kalashetra.. I did not hesitate further.. and uttered

"Narain, is it possible to direct music for Namma Metro..?" before he could answer I interrupted further "Your Music for the short film was just awesome!"

"Thank you! pleasure is mine and of course I will direct the music.." he replied in his very polished English!

"But the play is in Kannada.." I exclaimed

"Music does not have language...Sir.." he replied smiling at me

Perhaps I realised that day that if one man could get me near to the kind of theatre music I dreamt of, then it is Abhishek Narain.

Two weeks later Abhishek Narain gave me a rough track of Namma Metro's first track, coupled with abhijit's amazing lyrics, Abhishek told me "I have done this piece but not sure if you like it..." I requested him to mail me the tracks so that I could listen peacefully, that night I rushed home only to download his rough tracks and listen to them. The next day I called Abhishek and addressed him as "Sir" probably that was the only way I could give his due respect for his work. He smiled yet again and told me "Its just a small piece..I hope this justifies your play.." I was on cloud nine by then! the previous day I had heard all of Abhishek Narain's songs some of them which were part of a CULT following in my college days. 

From the start of my theatre journey I always experienced Live music, though a great fan of live performance, for me exploiting the technology in theatre was something that was missing. Songs of good quality can be recorded and mixed with live performance thus providing the audience an ultimate experience. It was then when I went to Abhishek and asked him if we can digitally record all of Namma Metro songs instead of a live performance, instantly he replied "Indeed! we will record the tracks"
When Namma Metro was recently staged at Ranga Shankara Abhishek had shared his one time desire to listen to his own songs on a RS platform. Yet again I felt happy that day this time for the music we had created. 

Abhishek Narain then went to direct music for two more productions of WeMove, Mirror and Nannavala Kagada setting up a new trend in theatre music.

As I pen this article listening to his tracks for my most ambitious play "P.S I Dont love you.." I feel that my biggest dream of creating a new revolution in theatre music has finally seen its light.

As Abhishek Narain Tracks end on my ipod; automatically the scuffle plays tracks of A.R Rahman, without much thinking or explanation I would like to believe myself that it is a symbolic representation of something big in future.