Wearing smiles

Guess what was Daler Mahendi doing at the National Games Village at Koramangala, during the last three days? Well, he was not there in pers...

Guess what was Daler Mahendi doing at the National Games Village at Koramangala, during the last three days? Well, he was not there in person, but his hit numbers, `Bolo ta ra ra …’ and `Sade Naal’, had the Games’s participants grooving late into the night.

Three days ago, the plan to host an entertainment programme was met with tremendous enthusiasm. “The response keeps getting better,” says Dr S K Punia, co-ordinator of the cultural committee.

Though there are mimicry programmes and songs in regional languages by participants, the first hour after the 7:30 p.m kick-off time is for professional artists. But, if the music is Carnatic or even semi-classical, it is said to be met with lukewarm response. Once the participants get involved, the ice is broken. Comments on the performances flow thick and fast everything in the right spirit.

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And, it is Mahendi who has been the favourite. “Ultimately, all participants want some fast numbers,” says Punia. Once Mahendi’s numbers are played, inhibitions are thrown into the winds, regionalism goes for a walk and camaraderie sets in double quick-time. In fact, the dance floor set up in the Village is fast becoming the most popular spot. “The participants have to be virtually pulled out of the dance floor,” says Punia.

The atmosphere in the village has a tinge of sadness attached to it as well. Many participants, whose disciplines are over, were preparing to leave for home on Friday. As usual, autograph books are visible at every nook and corner and, addresses and telephone numbers of newly-acquired friends are jotted down.

Besides, for shoppers, there are all kinds of stores in the village, including one on a cot, selling shorts, vests and jumpers. Those who missed window shopping in the duration of the Games so far, were seen satisfying their urges in these make-shift counters.