Get set fot the Rahman mania

He took the world by storm when he redefined Indian contemporary music and put the nation on the international music map.
Despite going global in every sense, with two Academy Awards, two Grammys, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA to his credit, along with four National Awards and several other honours, this music extraordinaire remains as humble as he was when he started his musical sojourn back in the ‘90s with Roja.We’re talking about the Mozart of Madras, AR Rahman, who will be in the city for AR Rahman Live in Concert. It’s not every day that one gets to witness a musical extravaganza of such magnitude. The icing on the cake will be the AV screens across the ground that will provide a 3D treat for music buffs in the city.
“It’s been a while since I performed for a large audience and I’m really excited about this show as we have an interesting line-up of songs that we have never performed on-stage before. There are a couple of musicians coming from the US, and with Anne Mary, the violinist, percussionist Sivamani and singer Remo Fernandes coming together after a long time, so it’s going to be nothing short of a grand reunion. We will also have Javed Ali, Vijay Prakash, Neeti Mohan and Shweta Pandit enthralling the audience with some peppy numbers,” says Rahman.
The maestro has been globe-trotting for a while now for his concerts and recordings, but he is only happy to live out of a suitcase. “Though I have performed in different parts of the world, one thing that I have noticed is that language is never a barrier. During one of my concerts in Kolkata, the audience asked us to sing the Tamil number Chandralekha. It was a big surprise and I asked them how they knew the song and the instant reply was, ‘We like Thiruda Thiruda.’ Music is beyond language and that keeps me going,” he says.
It’s a known fact that when Rahman is on stage, the world listens to him. But at the same time, he states that every concert has its own share of challenges. “Performing for a large audience is a huge task in itself. It’s not only music — other factors like security and the mood of the audience all play a vital role. I consider such musical gatherings a shrine where different sections of people come together for a spiritual experience,” says Rahman.
AR Rahman Live in Concert will be held at Palace Grounds, Bangalore, on May 29, 7 pm. To win free passes to the event, answer the following question:
AR Rahman won two Academy Awards for which film?
A) Slumdog Millionaire
B) Roja
C) Delhi 6
D) Lagaan
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