Jagjit Singh concert strikes a jarring note

After the well-managed Akon concert held a few days ago, Jagjit Singh’s ‘Ghazal Symphony’ held on Sunday at Leisure Valley Park turned out to be quite a dampener. Chetna Dua reports.

After the well-managed Akon concert held a few days ago, Jagjit Singh’s ‘Ghazal Symphony’ held on Sunday at Leisure Valley Park turned out to be quite a dampener.

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Organised on a wet ground, many visitors did not even have the heart to enter the venue, after looking at the poor arrangements. “The parking arrangement is bad. Besides, there are big potholes on the ground. There is dust all around. This is not the treatment you expect when you spend R1,500 per ticket,” said Manas Tandon, a guest.

Manas, who had bought four VIP tickets, was looking to sell them at half the price. People, who had purchased the R700 ticket, were happy selling it for R200. The ones, who dared to enter the venue, were in for more disappointment. “We have VVIP passes, yet we are not being allowed to sit in the front row,” said a woman, who had come to hear the Ghazal maestro.

“This is the worst concert I have ever attended. Even the Ramlila is better managed,” said Varinder Kalra, a businessman from Sushant Lok, who had bought a VIP ticket. After repeated requests, when the organisers refused to help, the audience turned rowdy.

As soon as the first ghazal ended, they started shouting and asked organisers to refund their money.

The singer had no choice, but to stop singing and give an ear to their concerns. However, the legendary singer’s gesture and his melodious voice saved the day for organisers. Singh appealed to all those, who did not have seats, to sit in the front area reserved for the VVIPs and media.