Watching those Hollywood-esque visuals of the Japan earthquake and subsequent tsunami on their TV screens was enough to leave even the most hardened souls agape with fear and horror upon realising that our permission to exist can be withdrawn without even a second’s notice. Instantly taking action, many like Lady Gaga
introduced items (read bracelets) that would help collect funds for the Japan relief. Even the capital jolted out of ennui and organised walks, FB events and prayer meetings. But they didn’t stop at that, many nightclubs and lounges in the city declaring a ‘Pray for Japan’ night right alongside the Holi and Bollywood evenings.
F Bar, one of the popular nightspots in town, organised a night where fifteen DJs from the city voluntarily came together to play as money was collected to be donated to the relief efforts in the quake struck country. Amit Bhatnagar, the manager. told us that initially the idea was to send funds directly but then they got in touch with Unicef, who supported the cause. “There was no obligation but people came together and we observed a one minute silence at midnight. Being a nightclub the only way we could create a platform was by organising an event around it,” he said.
While the Japanese restaurant ai went the authentic route and had only natives to perform various acts throughout the evening. “We were supported by the ‘Love for Japan’ foundation comprises Japanese expats in the city and had an evening of traditional and contemporary dance. We also decided to contribute 25-30 per cent of the day’s sales to Red Cross,” said Mansi Bhasin, spokesperson for the restaurant.
But not everyone was convinced with the noble intentions behind such occasions as DJ Mayank, who works as a freelancer in various nightclubs in town, informed us. “I think it’s a publicity stunt. Being a nightclub, one can separate the drinking and dancing from the cause but the focus should be on the tragedy with at least a candlelight vigil in the memory of those who suffered,” he said.