The University of Pennsylvania is most often associated with rigorous course loads and serious studies, but this weekend's visitors from U. Penn. showed Tufts another side of the school. In a concert organized by Tufts' Association of South Asian Students (TASA), Penn Masala, the country's first Hindi all-male a cappella group, entertained a packed Cohen Auditorium with their unique brand of "fusion fun" both Friday and Saturday nights.
Tufts' own breakdancing group, Turbo, opened the show. Dancing to a variety of Spanish rap and hip hop, the primarily male group flipped, spun, and rocked the crowd. Marked by a sense of spontaneity, the group's animated stylings received an enthusiastic response from the diverse audience. Following Turbo's performance, Penn Masala presented "Behind the Music." Broken into three parts, this parody of VH1's popular program told the tongue-in-cheek history of Penn Masala. Laden with jokes, the video had fun with references to a variety of cultural icons such as the Kwik-E-Mart, goat herding, and New Jersey. While the self-effacing humor of the video elicited much laughter, the highlight of the evening was Penn Masala's performance. The group sang three sets, beginning with a fusion of Hindi and English love songs, followed by the well-received "What it Means to be a Desai." This song, loosely based on the popular Backstreet Boys song of a similar title, explained the differences between "ABCDs" and "FOBs." Amusing for anyone familiar with modern stereotypes, the song encapsulated Penn Masala's essence of humorous, yet sensitive cultural awareness. Catering primarily to an Indian audience, as evidenced by several inside jokes, Penn Masala also attempted to please all members of its diverse audience. Its selection of English songs included such golden oldies as Van Morrison's "Brown-Eyed Girl," and more modern songs like the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "The Other Side." Although its vocal talents were evident regardless the music genre and any technical difficulties, Penn Masala is recognized more for their renditions of traditional and popular Indian songs. Indeed, the crowd went wild for favorites from India, such as "Bharat Hum Ko Jaan Se Pyare Hai," songs from Lucky Ali's "O Sanam," "Ek Pal Ka Jeena," as well as a unique interpretation of a Punjabi favorite, that garnered riotous cheering.
Throughout the show, the cultural blend of North America and India was unmistakable. In another nod to the Backstreet Boys, the Masala boys changed costumes three times, alternating between pants and blue shirts, black suits, and traditional churidar-kurta outfits. While its lighthearted approach was a hallmark of the show, the singers also punctuated the performance by a serious petition encouraging students to help out various agencies working for improvements in India. Penn Masala will be donating the majority of the profits from the over 1,500 tickets sold to such charities as Child Relief and You (CRY), an organization that works with children in India. The two acts following intermission also addressed grave issues. Harvard's Ghungroo Tut Gaye, a group of eight girls that makes up the school's new South Asian Fusion Dance Troupe, performed a creative dance to a modern Indian song. Its combination of elements from both Western dance styles and traditional South Asian techniques, aided by innovative lighting, provided an interesting continuation of the evening's hybrid cultural theme. In contrast, Boston University's Dance Theatre Group presented its tribute to the victims and survivors of disasters. A unique blend of motion and classical music, the three female performers demonstrated one of the many ways of using art as a method of expression. While the audience enjoyed the variety of dance and TASA's version of the "Weakest Link" during the a cappella time out, the return of Penn Masala to the stage was awaited with much eagerness. Finishing with its characteristic combination of Hindi and English vocals, the group expressed its appreciation of the audience, for which they received two standing ovations and were cajoled into an encore. With its fun attitude and unique song list, Penn Masala's performance at Tufts definitely perpetuated its loyal fan following.
