GOA: For guests at the Mallya megabash in Goa, Monday morning started late. And even as DJ Nikhil Chinapa and his girlfriend, DJ Pearl rocked La Calypso at Baga, the trickle of guests couldn’t get Lionel Richie out of their minds from the evening before.
Richie, undoubtedly the highlight of the five-day-long extravaganza, began his performance on the lawns of the Kingfisher Villa with ‘Dancing on the Ceiling’, ‘Hello’ and other Commodore songs dotting the rest of his performance. But the most cheers were evoked when he took the mike, spoke about how it seemed like Dr Mallya owned everything around. “Vijay is my new best friend,” he said, and called the birthday boy on stage. “When he asked me to come here and perform, he told me he would have very few of his closest friends over. I can see he’s one popular man!” The 750-strong crowd cheered on.
Two high-powered laser beams, synchronised with the music being played, penetrated the dark night sky as speciality foods like caviar, venison, quail, duck and the much sought after foie gras counter — all organised by Farokh Khambatta of Joss — kept people busy.
DJ Aqeel got the crowds grooving later in the night, and spotted setting the dance floor on fire were sisters Shilpa and Shamita Shetty — the only notable Bollywood stars around. The previous night’s spectacular fireworks display was repeated by an even more elaborate one, and the VIP flight, which was scheduled to leave at 2 am, left only after 4 am. Randhir Kapoor and Sushama Reddy with her mother were amongst the 30-odd people who flew back, and airline sources informed that the flight had arrived with over 50 people!
Amongst the most notable gifts that Dr Mallya got for his birthday was a bright red two-door Mercedes that Vijay Rekhi of UB, on behalf of the group, presented to him. Mallya seemed genuinely surprised as he climbed in and took control. The return gift presented to every guest was a personalised-for-the-occasion bottle of a rare Scotch whisky aged 12 years emblazoned with the gold logo, ‘VJM - 50 years.’
At 1 pm on Monday, even after the scheduled time of the final party at La Calypso, Dr Mallya joined his guests for a late breakfast at Taj Village’s Caravella restaurant. Later in the afternoon, as the party continued at Baga, a guest, who is in her late 40s, commented: “After a three-day party for his 40th, Vijay’s outdone himself with a five-day extravaganza for his 50th. I’d better get in shape and be fit and fine for his 60th. I know he’ll be rocking even then!”
And true to style, the Mallya family took off for a nearby island later in the evening to party the rest of the night away!
s_jamal@dnaindia.net
