I’ve had an enduring love-hate relationship with the craft of anchoring. While I didn’t want to miss being considered for anchoring an event, but the moment I was chosen, I would hope that the event would get cancelled under the merest pretext and I wouldn’t have to go through the extreme anxiety pangs before the actual moment of the curtain! But once the event started, I didn’t want it to end – simply because I found myself relishing the process of communication; I could feel adrenaline flowing! It is not too different even today.
Post concert pics – at Nehru Centre,
Mumbai flanked by Khayyam Sahab & Mr Qazi of Nehru Centre – one of his last concerts ~ 2010. I remember mentioning at the concert conclusion that my first professional compering assignment was with Jagjit Singh ~ Indian Merchants’ Chamber, Mumbai ~ 1977.
And this is my first Lata Mangeshkar concert – Kolhapur – 1978
When I started out in the voice world, anchoring was not anchoring that it is today. it was merely announcing. Woh sootra-sanchaalan nahin thaa, keval udghoshanaein theen. Unfortunately, some anchors of the time seemed to work hard at proving this! I do like to think that my initial work has been disruptive enough for people to take notice of how…
Post an awards event in Pune – 2009
I remember once Ameen Sahab (late Ameen Sayani) & I were at the same programme – him in the audience and me on the podium. During a break he observed, Hareeesh, what you speak from the stage is very different from what people expect. Your words are possibly appreciated only by the first ten rows! What about the large number…
At the start & end of Ustad Zakir Hussain’s concert
I’ve always believed that anchoring should add value to a presentation content rather than be a smart adjunct to the main show. And this was amply proven when, in a manner of speaking, I was handed a virtual Oscar when Lata Mangeshkar wrote in the preface of a book on her (On Stage with Lata – Mohan Deora-Rachna Shah, Harper…
Some Memorable Moments
Pics & Notes
Rehearsal with Kishore-da
Backstage, on stage & at a rehearsal with Kishore-da at Madison Square Garden, New York. 1985.
Lata Mangeshkar
In the year 1985, Lata Mangeshkar embarked on a concert in Toronto to contribute to Canada’s unique... Read More
Shanmukhanand Hall
Backstage at Shanmukhanand Hall, Mumbai