Filed under: action replay | Tags: action replay, blind school, poona, pune, show, swarathma
Swarathma played live at the Poona Home and School for the Blind on Feb 7, 2010 as part of the series of Action Replay — Concerts with Conscience. Rather than give you a blow by blow account of what happened, we thought it would be a better idea to thank all of those who made this happen. After all, getting a gig together even with a budget is a tough ask!
Dr R Gujjar, Administrator, Poona Home and School for the Blind: When we called her, out of the blue, with a number taken off the website and asked her if we could play for the kids there, she never even blinked. No questions on who we were or what we were planning to do. She had the openness of heart to say, “Wonderful, come and play!” And this is true of the staff and the trustees of the School. Also a reason why the world is becoming a better place.
Furtados Music Store: Putting a show together on zero budget is next to impossible, you think? Not with friends at Furtados, India’s premier music store. As we have seen on other occasions, Action Replay goes straight to the heart — we got three stage amplifiers (bass, guitar and violin) and a full drum kit at no charge.
Nitin Joshi: Soundmeister extraordinaire, lensman par excellence and all round nice guy Nitin said he would love to come to the show, but was held up. In his stead, he sent some SM-58 and SM-57 mics from his studios, along with cables.
Silver, and Rishi Rai: One of Pune’s hottest bands Silver are also the nicest guys there. Though they rehearse about 20 km from the city, they took the pains to make sure that the Stranger amp we needed was brought to a friend’s place close to the Poona Blind School one day in advance. We just helped ourselves.
Naveen Deshpande: From getting us the cabs to sorting out sound issues Naveen was there at every step to make sure we had everything we needed. The fact that nothing happens in Pune without his say-so is also a big plus.
Kaustuv Dasgupta and Friends: Our hosts for the weekend, my brother, and adopted brother of everyone else in the band. His friends and roomies who opened their hearts and homes for us (as they have been doing in the past) and give us a permanent residential address away from home.
Vasu gets the kids to jive to 'Tibet'. You can dance even if you can't see. Click for the Flickr photostream
Kunal Kakodkar: Here is a photographer with the rare talent of capturing the right moment at the right time. His pictures speak loud and clear of what this event was all about. You may want to check his work out here.
The Kids: There is a disarming lack of artifice in the Action Replay audience. There is no condition to their affection – it is spontaneous and heartfelt. We cannot begin to imagine what life without sight is like, but here we found a strength of spirit that belies all we may think of their so-called ‘plight’.
All of our friends who showed up to cheer us on: Tasneem , Akshata, Purva, Apphia, Arjun, and Amit. We hope you enjoyed it as much as the kids did.
Watch the live video here:
Text: Jishnu Dasgupta | Pictures: Kunal Kakodkar | Video: Kaustuv Dasgupta
Filed under: action replay, initiatives | Tags: action replay, centre, conscience, free concert, leprosy, swarathma
Swarathma believes that its music is rooted in a social context. That is why in 2010 we resolve to take ACTION, to take our music, its message and the joy it brings to those who may not get a chance to hear it easily.
Introducing Swarathma Action Replay: Concerts with Conscience. Where few, if any, bands have gone before. Where we will play our hearts out. For free.
The first in the series of Action Replay concerts will be at 6pm on 6 Jan 2010, at the Sumanahalli Leprosy Rehabilitation Centre, that is home to over 120 patients. The society also shelters the HIV+, street kids and abandoned girls, all of whom will be a part of the 300 strong audience we’re expecting at their sprawling, incredibly green campus.
The inmates are on the verge of losing their haven, though. In the 30 years of its existence, the area surrounding the Centre has gone from forest to a bustling suburb and authorities are doing the math on what the property is now worth.
We intend to play more shows of this kind whenever we can afford to. It is called Action Replay because we take a part of our show fee from other paying gigs to self-produce these concerts. Organisers are welcome to produce such gigs themselves, too.
If you’re in Bangalore and would like to be a part of this event, drop us a mail. Or if you know of another cause worth taking ‘action’, anywhere in the country via music, let us know.
But together, we will make a difference, however small. One show at a time.
Peace, for 2010
Swarathma
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