Anahat: South Asian A Cappella Competition
By Helen Weng November 8, 2009 | 8:44 pm
Posted in: Events, Music
The annual South Asian a cappella competition, Anahat, was hosted by UC Berkeley Indus at Zellerbach Playhouse last night. Competitors included USC Asli Baat, UCSD Sitaare, UCLA Naya Zamaana, UCI Andaaz, UIUC Chai-Town, Stanford Raagapella, CWRU Dhamakapella, and UC Berkeley Dil Se. Out of these seven teams, USC Asli Baat placed first, followed by UIUC Chai-Town second and UC Berkeley Dil Se third. Aditya Prakash of UCLA won Best Soloist, and Best Arrangement went to USC Asli Baat’s arrangement of The Beatles’ “Blackbird/Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai”. UC Berkeley Dil Se won the audience vote for Best Costume, but, given the audience in Zellerbach Playhouse, that, at the very least, was to be expected.
After a playful prerecording introducing each group, every team performed three to four songs in English or Hindi (or both) to a panel of four judges (Harini Krishnan Vikas, Vasudha Ravi, Mark Sumner, and Robin Estrada) and an energetic audience of varying age and predominantly South Asian descent.
Although the audience heavily favored the home team, UC Berkeley Dil Se, (at times, sitting in the audience felt like sitting at a football game, with Cal chants interspersed throughout), it was undeniable that all contenders were well-versed and virtuosic in both eastern and western tradition, with songs alternating between Hindi and English and featuring both soloists and beatboxers.
UIUC Chai-Town, an all-male team hailing from far-away Chicago, performed first, dressed in shirts of varying colors and nice black slacks. They were casually cool, choreography following in the same style as traditional male a cappella groups, singing strongly overall. UC Berkeley Dil Se performed next in more traditional garb, the girls in matching orange and the guys in a deeper maroon. Their set was slower, less lively than the others, featuring mellower songs such as an arrangement of Coldplay’s “Fix You”. What they may have lacked in energy, however, they made up for in many complex layers of harmonies in their arrangements.
UCLA Naya Zamaana, dressed in more western formal wear, showcased strong soloists and an amazing beatboxer in upbeat songs that swept the whole audience away. If there was a team that should have gotten an award but didn’t, it would be UCLA. Stanford Raagapella arranged more western songs with Hindi lines, such as Usher’s “Let It Burn” and Rihanna’s “Umbrella” with success, but was pitchy at times. USC Asli Baat, the winning team, was especially spectacular in their performance of “Blackbird/Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai”, which they won best arrangement for, intertwining Hindi lyrics with English lyrics. In all, there were three references to Danny Boyle’s 2009 film Slumdog Millionaire: once in a video and twice with Jai Ho, which was performed by both CWRU and UC Irvine.
UC Men’s Octet performed eight songs as the exhibition act, staring with the Cal Fight Song and ending with “Get Around”, and were their usual well-rehearsed selves.
Altogether, Anahat 2009 was an entertaining show of traditional South Asian music and how it is presented by South Asian-American college students today.
Image: Helen Weng
Link: www.ucberkeleyindus.com
Absolutely agree! The UCLA team surely deserved an award… perhaps a placement of second. But overall, the show was enjoyable and Cal did a great job hosting and organizing.
Comment by pv — November 8, 2009 @ 10:44 pm
honestly, who the hell are you to judge any of the competition? what is your south asian a cappella history? if you are going to make claims that some teams lacked energy while other teams were off pitch, i need to see some credentials.
Comment by jt — November 8, 2009 @ 11:13 pm
Enjoyed the “Dola Re” performance, Chai Town’s funny moves and UCLA’s Hai Ram and their finale. Stanford’s begining alaap was memorable as well. Very surprised that UCLA did not place first or second.
Comment by a capella fan — November 8, 2009 @ 11:26 pm
You know what “jt,” any audience member can have some idea of what constitutes good energy and singing. You’re probably a bitter member from Dil Se, a team that did in fact lack energy especially compared to teams such as Asli Baat, UCLA, and Chai Town, and you don’t want to hear any criticism. Don’t be mad at the writer…she just like anyone else who listens to the radio or watches a movie, is entitled to their opinion. After all, this is posted on a BLOG… And seriously, I was sitting in the audience too and I felt the same way as she did and I’ve been listening to south asian a cappella for over 7 years now.
Comment by mn — November 8, 2009 @ 11:28 pm
FIRST OF ALL, it’s A CAPPELLA not A CAPELLA…Makes me question whether you are qualified to even review this event… (http://www.singers.com/a-cappella.html)
NEXT, I STRONGLY disagree with you on the comment about Dil Se’s lack of energy. I have been on an a cappella team before, and have attended Anahat multiple times.
I think that you were watching a different performance than most people. Though Dil Se had slower numbers like Ik Onkar, Teri Justajoo, and Fix You, the team contrasted these songs with fast, energetic ones such as Hai Junoon and Beedi.
I don’t think any other team had as much diversity in their choreography as Dil Se. If you watched Hai Junoon and Beedi properly you would have noticed that the choreography is neither simple nor stationary. I don’t think any other team matched up in terms of energy and ambitiousness to sing while dancing to that extent. These songs went completely unmentioned in your review.
Instead, you mention only their rendition of Fix You…but not any of their other songs. You seem to forget about the main focus..SOUTH ASIAN A CAPPELLA…and you only talk about the English songs that each team performed…I don’t understand how this is an accurate reflection of the competition at all.
On the other hand, I do agree that UCLA definitely should have placed.
I don’t know how or why USC placed, let alone in first…Their arrangements were elementary and their performance was boring. They needed a lot more experience in arranging and performing…It was a shocking win…in a bad way.
Comment by sam — November 8, 2009 @ 11:32 pm
…and before there are any accusations of me being a “bitter Dil Se member,” I would like to clear things up by saying that I am not on Dil Se. I am just a South Asian A Cappella fan who feels that this event was reviewed unfairly by an unqualified writer.
Comment by sam — November 8, 2009 @ 11:38 pm
I demand a recount/recall or revisit of the judges decisions by the organizers. It seems like by all accounts UCLA should have placed. I will crusade till this matter is looked into.
Comment by sandhya shiv — November 9, 2009 @ 12:38 am
Sam, You seem more qualified to be a judge than the judges themselves. I wonder why the organizers did not invite you as an honorary judge.
Comment by SR — November 9, 2009 @ 1:24 am
““Blackbird/Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai”, which they won best arrangement for, intertwining Hindi lyrics with English lyrics.”
“kya mujhe pyaar hai, blackbird, fly” was the extent of this intertwining, am I wrong? On the bright side, nothing makes a competition more popular than a surprise win. Congrats to all contenders.
Comment by Ishita — November 9, 2009 @ 1:43 am
i’m surprised i’m not hearing more chatter for stanford raagapella; i thought they should’ve been placed, imo.
Comment by kk — November 9, 2009 @ 10:40 am
Chai-Town were amazzzzinng! they should have come first.
they really brought it back this year!
Comment by Jonathan james — November 9, 2009 @ 2:02 pm
Normally I wouldn’t say this but I did see that Berkeley was not as good as they could have been. Chai town did an amazing come back this year and I was hoping them to get first.
Comment by berkeley fan — November 9, 2009 @ 3:05 pm
When all the vids hit youtube, we can discuss more.
Comment by dj — November 9, 2009 @ 4:20 pm
i felt ucla was okay, but dil se definitely deserved to come in first or second, they were amazing, vocals were very nice
Comment by piggy237754 — November 9, 2009 @ 4:53 pm
dil se’s performance:
http://www.youtube.com/user/shantipai1962#p/a/u/0/MpIJmigB-M8
Comment by 350z — November 9, 2009 @ 5:08 pm
To Sam: The “unbiased” ACAPPELLA fan. Clearly you are more qualified than any of the judges to evaluate this competition. After all, you have attended anahat multiple times. Congratulations.
This blog and these reviews are meant to constructively discuss the event, not tear down a new team with bitter criticisms. USC won, and with good reason.
Comment by Vroom Vroom Slurp Slurp — November 9, 2009 @ 6:29 pm
Thanks for the quick and timely update on the event
Comment by DT — November 9, 2009 @ 11:59 pm
I’m not sure if this is the 1000-lb elephant in the room (this is The Daily CAL after all)…but Raagapella was AMAZING! They had everything: engaging soloists, talented carnatic singers, intricate arrangements blending East and West, and ENERGY. I think the point was made when the crowd-hissing before the group went on stage-immediately surrendered in silence after the group’s opening act.
Hold your heads high, Raagapella! You made a believer out of me!
Comment by JW — November 10, 2009 @ 1:26 am
Still waiting for it all to hit youtube.
Comment by dj — November 10, 2009 @ 3:08 am
lol according to the various comments posted here, every team should have placed. Just goes on to show the level of competition there was. I’m sure we can all agree that Anahat 2009 was an extremely entertaining show, and at the end of the day all that matters is that everyone had a good time!
Comment by Guess Who? — November 10, 2009 @ 3:09 am
I don’t how USC placed, let alone win 1st place. They did not have a great set, nor mind blowing arrangements, nor a great soloist. Heck, they were off pitch at times. Their final song was so poor. What the judges saw in them only they should know. Chaitown, Dhamakapella, and UCLA were so tight. Dil Se were good.
Comment by Jag — November 10, 2009 @ 11:23 am
Interesting to see how many varied opinions are expressing the same comment: about UCLA not placing at all ! Hmmm…
Comment by another a cappella fan — November 11, 2009 @ 1:28 pm
Anahat 2009 was an amazing show with some mind-blowing performances from all teams. Props to Indus for their mad organizational skills. Best “brown” show ever!
That being said, I hope someone from Chai Town sees this because they were UH-MAY-ZING! Can you please put full/better quality versions of your songs up on youtube?
Comment by jaijaivanti — November 12, 2009 @ 1:06 am
I think we all can agree that UC Men’s Octet should have won it all.
Comment by ns — November 12, 2009 @ 1:53 pm