Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Visakhapatnam
Girls on the `GO'
THIS TEEN troupe is unique. And make no mistake, it is called "The Girls Orchestra" (GO). By far the `only girls orchestra in Asia', making it even more unique. They seem to have taken audiences by storm having performed not only within the country but also in Sri Lanka, Singapore and the Gulf.
The Chennai-based troupe was in the city to present programmes on the eve of New Year and on January 1.
During the Tamil month of Adi, the team is much in demand doing even three shows in a row on a single day. If that is any indication of their popularity, it is also the variety that they infuse in their shows that makes them so sought-after.
It was at the crack of the new millennium that Madhu, the organiser of GO, came up with this brilliant idea of creating an all girls orchestra. "We wanted to do something different and this was it,'' he narrates how the troupe was born in 2000.
Undoubtedly, the idea was novel. But finding suitable members was tough. "Initially we tried with members of some renowned institutions in Chennai. But most left India to pursue higher studies abroad. Next, we turned to the database of prominent singers and musicians on the net and picked 20 people," he recalls the difficult days.
"We don't confine ourselves to any specific kind of programme. Starnites, fundraising programmes, family get-togethers, company functions, festival celebrations, event management shows, we are well prepared for all", says Madhu with much pride, adding that most of his young musicians are college girls who can cope with tight schedules.
Instantly, Rebecca, sitting next to him, edorses with a smile : "I can play non-stop for four hours". Experience, practice and dedication makes these budding talents untiring bundles of stamina.
Neither does the troupe really believe in rehearsing its shows. "Practically, all our shows are extempore", says Rebecca. It is perhaps this spontaneity which strikes a chord with the audience when the young teenagers take to the stage singing and playing all forms of music - be it the classical, western, album or filmi.
Though their choice of selections is diverse, the troupe members confide that they derive maximum pleasure and satisfaction singing the tunes of Ilayaraja and A.R. Rehman.
Language too has no frontiers for this all-girls team who are able to lend their mellifluous voice to Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and English songs. But of late, the public has mostly been demanding the smash hit `Manmadha rasa' and the team has no choice but to repeatedly surrender.
However, in a show at Mumbai recently, the GO was taken by surprise when the audience asked for old melodies. "Not even the hit songs of 80s was on their list. They demanded the real archival music from the 60s and 70s. And believe us, it was one of the most memorable shows for us", share the members.
The GO has several firsts and records to its credit which Madhu does not fail to unveil. "As a group we are the first to have girls on all musical instruments, our members have given drum solo performances spanning 15 minutes, mimicry items, digital sound track, laser lighting effects..," is Madhu's long list of achievements. But what is considered the supreme is the "completion of 500 shows in the last 3 years".
Into their fourth successive year in the entertainment industry, the troupe is still able to hold sway with audiences far and apart. The secret? - Well, each of them possesses some additional talent which comes in handy at times of emergency and for making the impromptu performances more peppy.
One of the members, Suchitra has her special place of pride in the team since she got the opportunity to display her mettle along with A.R. Rehman in some of his latest releases.
On their ambitions, the girls echo a foremost desire to do an "album mixing all forms of music" and that will enthral all age groups. However, what these young girls consider to be an ambition for life is "a performance at any of the Seven Wonders of the World, a la Yanni style who held his concert at the Taj Mahal.
For more details access www.girlsorchestra.com
M.R.ARAVINDAN
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Visakhapatnam
|
