Sachi,
I've filled in the survey. Hope more do before it closes.
KNV,
Thanks for mentioning Sujatha V's' post in the Sruti blog.
And, thanks to Sujatha Vijayaraghavan for voicing her frustration over a pitiable incident like this.
Strangely enough, I would have written about it the very same day (when I was getting sicker every minute and had to abandon the idea of sitting with my laptop and writing about it when my body was weak and mind couldn't think clearly).
In spite of being unwell, I went to the venue and was stopped at the gate with a simple 'sold out' by the watchman. Seeing the office bearer (we are acquainted), I said, 'let me talk to him'. I was greeted politely (iron fist in a velvet glove, I gathered soon).
Knowing that the evening program would have sold out, I said, "Oh no! I'm here only for this concert. I would like to buy a ticket, please!"
"Sorry", came the reply. "You know, people go in and stay on!"
"Wait a minute! I'm not going to do that! You know me, and I'll be out soon after this concert! Don't you trust me?"
"I can't make exceptions!"
"This is unfair! He's going to be deprived of a decent number of audience too because of this!"
Again, iron fist in a velvet glove. I was sent out
I used to be irked when a hall would be vacated at some sabhas for the evening programs, even when I attended both concerts. That seems fair now, compared to this.
I guess a number of us went through this experience that afternoon, and returned home dejected. And the artistes on stage! What kind of an atmosphere it was for them to perform in!
All in all, a bad show!
Don't worry, its anonymous. We will publish the results in one month! 