CWG boy wonder is India's new darling

New Delhi: Keshav, the child prodigy who endeared himself to millions of viewers through his spectacular jugalbandi with 1000-odd drummers at the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games is just an ordinary seven year-old who is "happy" to be playing the tabla. With a toothy grin and curly locks framing a cherubic face, the shy prodigy bearing a striking similarity to Ustad Zakir Hussain, kept bobbing his head spontaneously as his face wreathed into smiles while he kept beat to percussionists at the "Rhythms of India" segment at the Opening Ceremony.

Accompanied by his mother Gopika, her partner Nadaka and Bharat Bala, the creative director of the Games Ceremony, Keshav at his first press conference at the Main Press Centre here with the same equanimity he displayed during the Opening. "I was happy," said the young master responding to queries about how he felt during his performance. Gently prompted by his singer-photographer-painter mother Gopika, Keshav responds with on-liners about his "one month long" practice sessions and his observation of the "chairs" at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Text: IANS

Images: PTI & AFP

Image: Seven-year old Tabla player Keshav performs during the XIX Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in New Delhi on October 3, 2010.