Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony Stunned the World (Photos)

The ferocious blog posts, Facebook status updates and media battering were all but forgotten when A. R. Rahman took centre stage during the last segment of the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.


There were no memories of the weak, watery khichdi of a non- anthem to end all anthems, which had greeted us almost a month ago. What we saw and heard instead was a revised, grungy version of the song – but the performance was overshadowed by what had gone before it. And undoubtedly, benefited from it.


The tour de force that was titled The Great Indian Journey is a performance you tell your grandchildren about. Inspired by, and featuring the Indian railways network, the presentation incorporated elements from the great Indian tamasha that is our daily life. It began on a slow note, with strains of Awal Allah Noor Upaya from the G urbani , which is why you could not be blamed for being ill- prepared when the opening bars of Chaiya Chaiya began, followed by a train.

Dancing atop the train were Hussain Kuwajerwala and the cast of Zangoora — The Gypsy Prince, currently playing at Kingdom of Dreams in Sector 20, Gurgaon.


This was Wizcraft’s tuppence by way of publicising the ‘Bollywood style musical’, but really, who minded when they were all having so much fun? But it was when the rest of the floats came on that the fun really began.

First it was the rickshaws with crackers atop them that cycled at will. Then came an ambassador with several loudspeakers on it, a whimsical remnant of babu - era Delhi.

These were followed by gigantic nimbu- mirchis, dabbawallahs and halved autos — vociferous symbols from the everyday life of India. Matka dancers were juxtaposed against labourers carrying bricks on their heads.

A brass band and a mock baraat completed the party. And when they beamed Vaishnav Jan Toh , with sand drawings of the Dandi March on the aerostat, it wasn’t in the least bit tacky.

The presentation was flashy, it was flamboyant and it exemplified the ‘ We are like this only’ spirit that most of us live by. This was an India unafraid of its quirks. Better yet, this was an India smiling indulgently at itself.

Rahman benefited intensely from the positive energy generated by the show. Loud cheers greeted the composer, and everyone remembered he was our most recent Oscar- winner. Jeeyo Utho Badho Jeeto finally had its moment under the sun — rather under red and white lights, too reminiscent of the official beverage of the Games. The rendition was accompanied by folk dances from across the length and the breadth of the country.


What set fire in the stands was Jai Ho! from Slumdog Millionaire, a stock from his repertoire now, which probably got even his most strident critics jiving. Some wiseguy in the stands took it upon himself to float a paper plane as an homage to the other great song from the soundtrack – but Rahman did not oblige the crowd with that number.

Now, if only he had ended the performance with that, and not decided to sing the opening words himself, it wouldn’t have struck such a discordant note.

From giant cutouts of Bollywood stars to spectacular classical dance performances, the opening ceremony of the CWG on Sunday was as colourful and vibrant as India itself.