It’s a breezy summer evening in Chennai and a motley group of people are plonked on a jamakalam spread across a nondescript motta maadi (terrace) in Nanganallur. A nearby temple bell chimes and it looks like the group is prepping for a paatu class. But not really. They whip out their smartphones and search ‘Strawberry Penne’ lyrics.
They are in the middle of a Motta Maadi Music session, the sixth one this year, themed around AR Rahman. The stars are out just in time as everyone sings in chorus, “Vinveli peneee!”
Literally meaning open terrace music, this initiative brings together people for one sole purpose — to sing their hearts out together. “My only aim is to get people to lose inhibitions and sing,” says Badhri Narayanan Seshadri, a sound engineer and an independent musician, who conceptualised Motta Maadi Music and on whose terrace the event takes place. This is perhaps why the event has become so popular across all age groups in just six months. It is only the voice of the collective crowd that is heard: the perfect fix for someone who loves singing but is too embarrassed to attempt anything.
Badhri is also part of Hrudhya, the band which plays at every session, lending support to the audience.
The first session, conducted in January, saw a little under 25 people milling about on the roof. Ilaiyaraaja night and Rahman night, however, witnessed at least 180 participants. “We did not do any promotion whatsover, except create a Facebook event page,” Badhri says. “The massive attendance was all word-of-mouth.”
On an event night, Badhri is busy shuttling between setting the instruments, giving directions over the phone and trying to pump up the audience. His family helps out too: his mother prepares piping hot filter coffee for the first hundred people, his dad and uncle make sure there are no parking problems for those who attend. Some members of the audience were so completely involved in singing, that they did not notice a plate of biscuits and a tray of soft drinks passed around by Badhri’s family.
He is open to the idea of providing a platform for other bands to showcase their original music during the event. “It is tough for young bands to find a large audience. I’d be happy to have a band performing in the middle of our session.”
But in the end, it is all about celebrating music. Badhri says the audience have now started owning Motta Maadi Music. “From me hosting the event, it has gone on to become their show. They choose the songs, they set the tempo and the tone for the night.”
Entry is free for Motta Maadi Music’s upcoming session, Haasan Night, celebrating songs of Kamal Haasan, scheduled on November 17. The performers for the evening are Pramodh (lead guitar), Kiran (violin), Ramya (keys), Vishwesh and Achyuth (bass), Vignesh (cajon). Visit www.facebook.com/ MottaMaadi Music for details.