VARDA ARTS

This was in Nairobi, Hilton Hotel, while Yunus was singing "Shirdi waale Sai Baba.." when a group of Muslim devotees of this pious Saint furiously got on the stage, fiercely snatched the mike and stopped us from singing! Their objection was, how dare we sinful musicians render divine Quawwali of revered Sai Baba! We realized the group had nothing to offer intellectually or spiritually but a headache! So, we decided to quit the show itself!
Organizers gathered and begged us to compromise as that group was their 'Sponsors' ad those in the audience had the power of money! The group suggested instead to sing "Pardah hai Pardah.." Quawwali from the same movie! When Yunus sang, the audience went wild, cheering, clapping, dancing, enjoying and showering tips! When we finished, the same group once again got on the stage, this time shouting "Once more! Once more!" with an irritating attitude not requesting but forcing us to sing it again!
Thus, I announced, "Janab, your sentiments were hurt when we sang 'Shirdi waale Sai Baba..' but your sentiments are not injured where a Muslim boy named Akber, vows 'Parda-nashin ko Be-parda na kardun to Akber mera naam nahin!' meaning, 'I will not call myself Akber (a Muslim) if I fail to unveil the veil (of a Muslim girl)' and you are shouting for more!
Naturally, the show came to close at this point! Though, we suffered the after effects but did not bargain our self-respect and have no regrets at all!
Later, the same organizers invited us again to Nairobi, hired Eagle Stars Apartments for a four months stay and we performed whole over Kenya! Interestingly, they requested us to take citizenship of Kenya!
Criticism can be a pleasant experience too!!