An exclusive look at Raavan’s grand music launch

Gulzar and A.R. Rahman And the moment that everyone was waiting for had arrived. The curtains rise for the last time. The jungle set is intact and in far right hand side are two impeccable figures standing – Gulzar in his trademark white kurta pyjama and the Oscar winner A.R. Rahman in his usual, Read More">silentRead More

Gulzar and A.R. Rahman

And the moment that everyone was waiting for had arrived. The curtains rise for the last time. The jungle set is intact and in far right hand side are two impeccable figures standing - Gulzar in his trademark white kurta pyjama and the Oscar winner A.R. Rahman in his usual, silent demeanour sung a song from Raavan to which Gulzar recited some verses.

A. R. surprised one and all, including Mani Ratnam, with a soulful rendition of a song called 'Jaa Re Udd Jaa Re' written by Gulzar.

Rahman composed the song a day before the launch and on the day of the epic event, in the wee hours recorded it in his own voice. Now we have to wait and watch if Mani gives Rahman a surprise by inserting the song into the film.

The evening ends with the cast and crew up on to the stage for their first and the many more to come photo opportunities. Flashes all around the auditorium, Abhishek, Aishwarya and Vikram were escorted for some quick rendezvous with the press. Beer bottles pop up and the world of Raavan just got better.

Raavan Music Launch It couldn’t have got any bigger than this. Let’s say this in Mani Ratnam style then – It couldn’t have got any “real” than this. Yes, Read More">the Saturday evening saw the best ever music launch for an Indian film to take place on the Indian soil – Raavan. It was a musicalRead More

Raavan Music Launch

It couldn't have got any bigger than this. Let's say this in Mani Ratnam style then - It couldn't have got any "real" than this. Yes, the Saturday evening saw the best ever music launch for an Indian film to take place on the Indian soil - Raavan. It was a musical extravaganza packed with live orchestra, vocalists, dancers and chorus, and with maestro's presence in the form Gulzaar and A.R. Rahman, the music launch can aptly be described as 'Epic'.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Mani Ratnam

We were seated and waiting with bated breath for the curtains to lift and see the launch take place. But to everyone's surprise, we see a beautiful figure walking towards the centre of the stage in a white saree with red and golden borders announcing the quoted 'World of Raavan' launch. Welcome Mrs. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in and as Raghini in Raavan. A perfect host for the evening, she was the one to talk us through the epic journey discovered by the entire cast and crew with the captain of the ship, Mani (as they all love to call him) was right in the middle of the crowd watching his ship sail through the thunderous applause that evening.

But first was Raghini to have described her side of the story. In her words, "Mani puts us through the toughest of situations. So we were welcomed by the leeches, snakes, tough terrains and then he shouts - make it real. That's Mani for you all." She further adds, "Working with Mani isn't just a pleasure and a challenge. It is much more than that. The first time I was briefed about Raavan was when I was dancing in the rain song in Guru. Who would've thought that Mani was fielding Raavan in his head while making Guru?"

Raghini and Raavan (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan) The curtains lift up again and we are a witness to yet another spectacular number. But this time around, the surprise doubled itself up. With the entire cast and crew present (except Govinda, who plays Hanuman in Raavan), Read More">the person dearly missed that evening was AbhishekRead More

Raghini and Raavan (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan)

The curtains lift up again and we are a witness to yet another spectacular number. But this time around, the surprise doubled itself up. With the entire cast and crew present (except Govinda, who plays Hanuman in Raavan), the person dearly missed that evening was Abhishek Bachchan. Least you knew that the talented B was backstage ready to explode on the stage. He did and how! Abhishek donned the same make up which you'll see when the film releases, and along with his dancing troupe he went full throttle to 'Thok De Khilli' number. The song and performance received a standing ovation and shouts of 'Once more'.

The song over, Abhishek breathless and Aishwarya walks towards him and says, "I can today hug my Raavan." Abhishek too recalled his experiences on working with his favourite director, Mani Ratnam who was watching all the proceedings quietly. He said, "We were covered in mud which was actually multani mitti (cooling paste), wet floor, no shoes on, snakes, leeches, tough conditions and he still wants everything real. That's how unreal it was." And then there was the confession of the evening when Bachchan Jr. quoted, "Whenever my career hits a low, Mani is there to lift me up again. He knows when I'm going through a bad phase and there he comes. Hey Mani, I'm free from January 2011 for you. And only I'll put on weight for you. So do take me in your next film." It was Abhishek in his true humour that evening.

But the evening got a bit more humorous when Aishwarya asked one last question to Abhishek, "So Abhishek, you think you nailed it? Thok Di Khilli?" After a pause, Abhishek replies, "Oh my God! That sounded so dirty. What have you just said?" Abhishek laughs out loud when Aishwarya confesses that it was Shaad Ali who was the culprit because he was the one to write the script for the evening.

Overall, it was fun, madness, music and graciousness personified by the two most beautiful couple.

Raghini and Ram (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Vikram) So as the curtains rise, we are a witness to a spectacular jungle set where on the left your eyes met the live orchestra and on the right, Read More">two singers along with the chorus singing to ‘Behne De‘. The crowd couldn’t have asked for a better sound.Read More

Raghini and Ram (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Vikram)

So as the curtains rise, we are a witness to a spectacular jungle set where on the left your eyes met the live orchestra and on the right, two singers along with the chorus singing to 'Behne De'. The crowd couldn't have asked for a better sound. Again, it was like Hanz Zimmer scoring The Dark Knight. No one in the crowd could guess what they were a witness to. After the song gets over, Raghini calls her Ram. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan calls on the debutant and one of her idols, South Indian actor Vikram. Dressed in a white jacket with menacing moustaches, Vikram looked Ram from top to bottom. The beautiful host then informs us, "Abhishek and I have always looked up to Vikram in his acting skills. He is a genius and he has improved his Hindi too." To which Vikram responds, "The best thing about working with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is that I didn't have to work hard. I just kept looking at her flawless act while she danced in one of the songs."

The media got a chance to interact with the newest entrant in Bollywood after the event got over and believe you me, no one wanted to move away from the Lord Rama.