TRAIN CONNECTION: The Sanskriti show. Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

An arch-like red cut-out of Chennai Central welcomes you at the Music Academy asking you to get on the amusement train, `Hungama Express' launched out by the Rajasthani Association of Tamil Nadu, Sanskriti. "This journey will be an informative-entertainer with interesting aspects related to the Indian Railways," the invitation said, and their thematic concept took shape with their entry pass itself that looked exactly like a train ticket!

Cinema lent itself wonderfully to Sanskriti's idea of creating a railway ambience. After all there is no dearth of film songs with the rail in the background. Several mood scenes were interpolated and the bits of info on the development of railways shown on giant screens was a clever add-on.

Though some hilarious situations like the man who bundles up his young son as luggage to save on ticket money or the over-enthusiastic watchfulness of the father advising his son on safe travel brought in some lively moments, it was the lesson behind these common situations that was being underlined.

The irritable reservation counter staff, the eternal confusion and squabble in queues amidst the railway announcements, the umpteen counters that never seem to have an answer to public's queries, the plight of people who gather at platforms to see their dear ones off... the mock station had it all!

Some of the evergreen melodies like Rajesh Khanna's romantic parallel car-chase to follow his heroine in the train in "Mere Sapno Ki Rani Kab Aayegi Tu" or Ashok Kumar's hit "Rail Gaadi Chuk Chuk Chuk Chuk" with the kids were well portrayed.

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