Musicians have their own quirks but Farhan Akhtar has the funniest one discovered off late. The dashing actor-cum-singer depends on on-stage antics and frills that he says keep the audience hooked for long. His songs are always a bonus, he tells Sangeeta Yadav during a performance in IIT Roorkee
If you thought college dropouts would shy away from an educational institution, think again! According to Farhan Akhtar, such people are always pining for that collegewali ambience. And the suave actor-cum-filmmaker-cum-composer got a taste of just that at a rock concert organised by IIT Roorkee recently.
“I have always been very thrilled about performing at college fests. I feel I can relate to that kind of madness. Unfortunately, I didn’t see much of college craze during my days because I left studies mid way. But I get to live my moments through these performances. I normally don’t like to do a lot of outdoor rock numbers but whenever I get an invite from a college, I am unable to refuse,” Akhtar says.
There are many like him who don’t miss a chance to go back to college whenever they can. Shankar Mahadevan is one who loves the vibes that college crowds give him. According to composer and singer, a college campus brings out the best in him.
For Akhtar, this was the first time in Roorkee and the place grew on him. “I was quite nervous about performing because as I had no idea what kind of music these students would like. Whenever I am faced with this dilemma, I stick to the basics. It works out nine out of ten times,” he says.
His normal performance routine consists — a sher (picked out to suit the time of the concert), some known filmi gaane, some dance numbers and an end on a high note with a Farhan favorite.
True to his promise, Akhtar started with a poem which talked about life and how important it is to make the right decisions. Then rolled out his hit songs Socha Hai, Dil Dhadakne Do and Senorita from his movies Rock On and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, respectively
“I pick my verses ahead of a show depending on the crowd where I am performing and also if I am singing to support a certain issue. The songs are sorted and picked out carefully by my team which is knows my likes. I prefer high-octane numbers to emotional ones because they finds a connect with the audience,” Akhtar who is associated with the social cause MARD — Men Against Rape and Discrimination, says.
Ask him how important it is to create antics on stage and he breaks into a smile. He tells you that it is these antics and some vocal histrionics that creates the interest in the crowd. With each performance, the antics become bolder and riskier. For the Roorkee event, for instance, he did 30 pushups midway in a song! He completed the number only after the exercise was over. Crazy you would thinkIJ But for the crowd, every bit was clap worthy.
“All these dos on stage are well-researched. We know what will work where. At times I have gotten a little carried away and my organisers then send gentle reminders through the boys. But most times, I am in control,” he tells you.
For a rock-on performer, his favourites would come as a mismatch. He is a huge fan of the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and says there can be no greater performer than him. “We are all way behind him when it comes to lighting up a stage. Through his classical singing, he wove magic and left the crowd spellbound. He is one musician who wouldn’t ever need any antics to prove his mettle,” Akhtar says, adding that the band Parikrama also has great stage presence.
According to the singer, India is coming alive to the concert way of life but there is still a long way to go before it comes at par with the West.
“The issue with India is that the weather is never right for an outdoor concert. Then there is the issue of crowd management and also ticket availability,” Akhtar says as he bids adieu to Roorkee.
On his way to the van, he reminds the audience that at the end of the day, he is also an actor who needs a huge hit.“Please go and see Shadi Ke Side Effects, next year,” Akhtar says as he leaves the crowd all rapt and applauding.