Passenger's Impromptu Gig at Kochi Airport Amid Airline Delays is a Lesson for Impatient Flyers

Amid the exasperating routines of air travellers grappling with delayed flights and airport inconveniences, a heartwarming incident unfolded at Kochi airport—a potential ‘lesson’ for all those impatient flyers. Renowned Indian percussionist Sivamani, undeterred by the mundane and frustrating baggage delay, transformed the situation into an impromptu drumming session. The episode gained attention when a video surfaced on social media, capturing the 64-year-old musician using his drum sticks on the conveyor belt railings to recreate the beats of AR Rahman’s ‘Humma Humma’ from the 1995 film, ‘Bombay.’

A woman, identified as ‘X’ user Sheetal Mehta, who was initially unaware of Sivamani’s identity, shared the video, expressing how a ‘fellow’ passenger had entertained everyone waiting at the conveyor belt.

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She wrote, “It’s been 40 minutes since we landed at Kochi airport and we are still waiting for our bags to come out. Instead of getting agitated we are getting entertained by a fellow passenger.”

However, as the video went viral, it became evident that the ‘entertainer’ was not just any fellow passenger but the renowned percussionist, often referred to as Drums Sivamani. Commenters swiftly corrected the misconception, praising Sivamani for his impromptu performance. One user commented, “Fellow passenger? That man deserves all the respect and accolades one can get, that’s the great Sivamani sir.” Another added, “I don’t think anyone would mind delays if Sivamani performs impromptu.”

The appreciation continued with remarks like, “Wow! Seldom does a baggage delay become a moment to cherish. Sivamani rocks!!” and “Your fellow passenger is legendary percussionist and long time associate of AR Rahman, Sivamani.. Most of the legendary songs of AR Rahman has Sivamani as the percussionist…”

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For the unversed, Sivamani, commonly known by his stage name Drums Sivamani, is an Indian percussionist who plays various instruments, including drums, octoban, darbuka, udukai, ghatam, and kanjira. He gained recognition through his role as A. R. Rahman’s lead percussionist and was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2019. He has also performed drumming during the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008 and 2010.