Commuter Rajan earned his sobriquet for his non-stop Metro travels in Moscow. Earlier Rajan was known as Zatopeck on wheels for his marathon cycling during his Chennai days.
Commuter Rajan loved the Moscow Metro for its cleanliness, architectural beauty and colourful paintings. The five kopeck travel charge could not be beaten nor the train service for its efficiency.
But what captivated commuter Rajan most was the soft music coming from the audio systems while waiting for the trains. Rajan was impressed by Russians’ understanding of both classical and folk music, when he overheard them discussing . Tchaikovsky's ‘Swan Lake’ or ‘Marche Slave’ and composers such as Glinka or Borodin.
On national holidays, Russian folk songs like the most popular ‘Kalinka’ or ‘Katyusha’ would be played in the Metro system. The army choir would render patriotic numbers with fervour.
He used to be surprised when commuters missed a train to to listen to their favourite number being played.
Rajan took the first opportunity when he was in New Delhi to take a Metro ride. The stations were clean, the passengers decorous and the travel pleasant and smooth. But Rajan missed was the music. He thought how wonderful the travel would be if he could hear the lyrics of Shakeel Badayuni set to music by Naushad in ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ or by Hemant Kumar in ‘Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam.’ And what if there were soul-charging and emotional ghazals such as ‘Main Pagal Mera Manva Pagal’ or ‘Phir Wohi Sham Wohi Gham’ by Talat Mahmood. And what about the romantic music of Jagjit Singh in ‘Ek Pyaar Ka Nagma Hai’. But the truth was Delhi Metro was not yet ready for music.
Rajan's hope now lay with the Chennai Metro.
How wonderful would the lyrics glorifying the rural beauty of Tamil Nadu sound while waiting for the train. Composer lyricist Ilayaraja's ‘Saayndhu Saayndhu’ or compositions of A.R. Rahman with Vairamuthu's lyrics that would fill the minds of the commuters with a new dream. The inimitable poetry of Kavignar Kannadasan, ‘Kaalangalil Aval Vasantham.. Kalaigalilae Aval Oaviyam.. Maathangalil Aval Maargazhi.. Malargalilae Aval Malligai..’ echoed in his ears. The train came to a halt and Rajan got down hoping that soon the day will come when weary travellers will be cheered by music..
