Tag: AR Rahman

  • Overwhelmed by love of audience, kept wanting to give more: AR Rahman on Pune concert incident 

    By PTI

    CHENNAI: A day after police stopped his concert in Pune for overshooting the 10 pm deadline, celebrated composer AR Rahman said he had a “Rockstar moment” after he performed for the audience in the city.

    In a tweet posted on Monday night, the double Oscar winner said he and his band were “overwhelmed” by the concertgoers’ love and wanted to “give more” to them.

    “Did we all just have the ‘Rockstar’ moment on stage yesterday? I think we did! We were overwhelmed by the love of the audience and kept wanting to give more. Pune, thank you once again for such a memorable evening,” Rahman said.

    The 56-year-old singer-musician also shared a video from the live concert, held at Raja Bahadur Mills in Pune on Sunday evening.

    “Here’s a little snippet of our roller coaster ride,” wrote Rahman alongside a wink emoji.

    On Tuesday, a hashtag ‘#DisRespectOfARRahman’ started trending on Twitter.”We are with you Thalaivaa @arrahman #DisRespectOfARRahman,” a fan said.

    We are with you Thalaivaa @arrahman #DisRespectOfARRahmanpic.twitter.com/wCY245u23b
    — Lyca Production (@LycaProducton) May 2, 2023
    “Shame on you MH government #DisRespectOfARRahman,” said another user.

    “What they did to ARR is not good at all; Stopping a concert in mid-song is highly insulting.

    Kudos to A R Rahman for being so respectful #DisRespectOfARRahman @PuneCityPolice @cppunecity @Dev_Fadnavis @CMOMaharas (sic)” a fan wrote on the microblogging site.

    After Sunday’s concert, a video went viral on social media platforms in which a police officer was seen walking on the stage and asking Rahman, other artistes and organisers to stop the music show as it was already past 10 o’clock.

    In his previous Twitter post, Rahman thanked Pune for “all the love and euphoria” during “a roller coaster concert” but did not address the incident.

    “Pune! Thank you for all the love and euphoria last night! Was such a roller coaster concert! No wonder Pune is home to so much classical music! We shall be back soon to sing with you all again!” the Oscar winner had said.

    Did we all just have the “Rockstar” moment on stage yesterday? I think we did!We were overwhelmed by the love of the audience and kept wanting to give more..Pune, thank you once again for such a memorable evening. Here’s a little snippet of our roller coaster ride 😉 pic.twitter.com/qzC1TervKs
    — A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) May 1, 2023
    An aide close to Rahman, however, on Monday said the police could have talked to the organisers instead of pointing fingers at Rahman, a Padma Bhushan awardee known over the world for his music.

    “10 pm was the curfew time but they’ve said it’s the last song and only a minute left.

    The police official went to the stage and asked ARR (Rahman) directly to stop, pointing finger at him.

    Police should have talked to the organisers or other control booths,” the aide said.

    Event organiser Dr Heramb Shelke said stopping the show in this manner was disrespectful to Rahman, a composer admired and appreciated the world over, and it could have been done in a “decent manner”.

    “At the last moment, this should not have happened as the entire programme was well organised,” he said.

    CHENNAI: A day after police stopped his concert in Pune for overshooting the 10 pm deadline, celebrated composer AR Rahman said he had a “Rockstar moment” after he performed for the audience in the city.

    In a tweet posted on Monday night, the double Oscar winner said he and his band were “overwhelmed” by the concertgoers’ love and wanted to “give more” to them.

    “Did we all just have the ‘Rockstar’ moment on stage yesterday? I think we did! We were overwhelmed by the love of the audience and kept wanting to give more. Pune, thank you once again for such a memorable evening,” Rahman said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The 56-year-old singer-musician also shared a video from the live concert, held at Raja Bahadur Mills in Pune on Sunday evening.

    “Here’s a little snippet of our roller coaster ride,” wrote Rahman alongside a wink emoji.

    On Tuesday, a hashtag ‘#DisRespectOfARRahman’ started trending on Twitter.”We are with you Thalaivaa @arrahman #DisRespectOfARRahman,” a fan said.

    We are with you Thalaivaa @arrahman #DisRespectOfARRahmanpic.twitter.com/wCY245u23b
    — Lyca Production (@LycaProducton) May 2, 2023
    “Shame on you MH government #DisRespectOfARRahman,” said another user.

    “What they did to ARR is not good at all; Stopping a concert in mid-song is highly insulting.

    Kudos to A R Rahman for being so respectful #DisRespectOfARRahman @PuneCityPolice @cppunecity @Dev_Fadnavis @CMOMaharas (sic)” a fan wrote on the microblogging site.

    After Sunday’s concert, a video went viral on social media platforms in which a police officer was seen walking on the stage and asking Rahman, other artistes and organisers to stop the music show as it was already past 10 o’clock.

    In his previous Twitter post, Rahman thanked Pune for “all the love and euphoria” during “a roller coaster concert” but did not address the incident.

    “Pune! Thank you for all the love and euphoria last night! Was such a roller coaster concert! No wonder Pune is home to so much classical music! We shall be back soon to sing with you all again!” the Oscar winner had said.

    Did we all just have the “Rockstar” moment on stage yesterday? I think we did!
    We were overwhelmed by the love of the audience and kept wanting to give more..
    Pune, thank you once again for such a memorable evening. Here’s a little snippet of our roller coaster ride 😉 pic.twitter.com/qzC1TervKs
    — A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) May 1, 2023
    An aide close to Rahman, however, on Monday said the police could have talked to the organisers instead of pointing fingers at Rahman, a Padma Bhushan awardee known over the world for his music.

    “10 pm was the curfew time but they’ve said it’s the last song and only a minute left.

    The police official went to the stage and asked ARR (Rahman) directly to stop, pointing finger at him.

    Police should have talked to the organisers or other control booths,” the aide said.

    Event organiser Dr Heramb Shelke said stopping the show in this manner was disrespectful to Rahman, a composer admired and appreciated the world over, and it could have been done in a “decent manner”.

    “At the last moment, this should not have happened as the entire programme was well organised,” he said.

  • ‘Incredible, paradigm shift’: AR Rahman on team ‘RRR”s win at Golden Globes 2023

    By IANS

    MUMBAI: Music composer AR Rahman, who was the first Indian to win a Golden Globe in Best Score category for the 2009 film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, congratulated the team of ‘RRR’ for bringing home the 80th Golden Globe award for the song ‘Naatu Naatu’.

    Rahman took to Instagram, where he shared a clip of Jenna Ortega announcing ‘Naatu Naatu’ as the winner in the Best Original Song in Motion Picture category. He tweeted: “Incredible ..Paradigm shift Congrats Keeravani Garu from all Indians and your fans! Congrats @ssrajamouli Garu and the whole RRR team!”

    ‘Naatu Naatu’ was in competition with ‘Carolina’ from ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’, ‘Ciao Papa’ from Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Pinocchio’, ‘Hold My Hand’ from ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and ‘Lift Me Up’ from ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’.

    To receive the honour was music composer M.M. Keeravani, who was accompanied by his wife Srivalli. He dedicated the award to director SS Rajamouli and the actors Ram Charan and NTR Jr.

    While accepting the award, he said: “Thank you very much for this prestigious award: This award belongs to SS Rajamouli for his vision, I thank him for constantly believing and supporting my work. Nt Rama Rao and Ram Charan who danced with full stamina.”

    Incredible ..Paradigm shift Congrats Keeravani Garu from all Indians and your fans! Congrats @ssrajamouli Garu and the whole RRR team! https://t.co/4IoNe1FSLP
    — A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) January 11, 2023
    ‘RRR’ stars NTR Jr., Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Shriya Saran, Samuthirakani, Ray Stevenson, Alison Doody, and Olivia Morris.

    It centres around two real-life Indian revolutionaries, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem, their fictional friendship and their fight against the British Raj.

    Set in the 1920s, the plot explores the undocumented period in their lives when both the revolutionaries chose to go into obscurity before they began the fight for their country.

    WATCH |

    MUMBAI: Music composer AR Rahman, who was the first Indian to win a Golden Globe in Best Score category for the 2009 film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, congratulated the team of ‘RRR’ for bringing home the 80th Golden Globe award for the song ‘Naatu Naatu’.

    Rahman took to Instagram, where he shared a clip of Jenna Ortega announcing ‘Naatu Naatu’ as the winner in the Best Original Song in Motion Picture category. He tweeted: “Incredible ..Paradigm shift Congrats Keeravani Garu from all Indians and your fans! Congrats @ssrajamouli Garu and the whole RRR team!”

    ‘Naatu Naatu’ was in competition with ‘Carolina’ from ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’, ‘Ciao Papa’ from Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Pinocchio’, ‘Hold My Hand’ from ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and ‘Lift Me Up’ from ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’.

    To receive the honour was music composer M.M. Keeravani, who was accompanied by his wife Srivalli. He dedicated the award to director SS Rajamouli and the actors Ram Charan and NTR Jr.

    While accepting the award, he said: “Thank you very much for this prestigious award: This award belongs to SS Rajamouli for his vision, I thank him for constantly believing and supporting my work. Nt Rama Rao and Ram Charan who danced with full stamina.”

    Incredible ..Paradigm shift Congrats Keeravani Garu from all Indians and your fans! Congrats @ssrajamouli Garu and the whole RRR team! https://t.co/4IoNe1FSLP
    — A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) January 11, 2023
    ‘RRR’ stars NTR Jr., Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Shriya Saran, Samuthirakani, Ray Stevenson, Alison Doody, and Olivia Morris.

    It centres around two real-life Indian revolutionaries, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem, their fictional friendship and their fight against the British Raj.

    Set in the 1920s, the plot explores the undocumented period in their lives when both the revolutionaries chose to go into obscurity before they began the fight for their country.

    WATCH |

  • Vax.India.Now raises over USD 5 million to support India in its battle against COVID-19

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Vax.India.Now, a virtual fundraiser to support India in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, has raised more than USD 5 million, the organisers said on Wednesday, August 11, 2021.

    The concert was live-streamed globally on July 7, with UNICEF and AIG as beneficiaries.

    Anuradha Juju Palakurthi, who backed the initiative through her Anuradha Palakurthi Foundation, said they are “grateful” for the generosity of large and small donors from around the globe who came together to support this lifesaving campaign.

    “The dedicated, multi-national 160-person organization team is proud to have raised meaningful resources in India’s battle against this awful pandemic. I am grateful to the celebrities for lending their time and talent in particular, the immediacy of their response and commitment to the cause,” the Boston-based Indian playback singer said in a statement.

    Anuradha also expressed gratitude to the Indian team “that had to work through a national lockdown”.

    “The campaign is still open at VaxIndiaNow.com. Give today! We are all together in this and must continue to vaccinate individuals, to prevent more variants, and stop Covid 19. It is not over until it’s over,” she further said.

    The event was hosted by popular comic-actor Hasan Minhaj, with the likes of Liam Neeson, Annie Lennox, A.R.Rahman, Pia Toscano, Zubin Mehta, Gloria Estefan, Sting, Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Yo-Yo Ma, David Foster, Norwegian DJ Alan Walker, Asif Mandvi, Nishat Khan, Ranjani Gayatri Sisters and Matteo Bocelli participating in the concert.

    Vax.India.Now also shed light on the ground realities in India amid the pandemic and educated viewers on how they can help save lives and make a real impact, according to the organisers.

    Proceeds will support UNICEF’s efforts to ensure millions of crisis-affected and vulnerable children and families in India have access to life-saving assistance and services and help COVID-19 vaccines reach the ones in need, they added.

    The fundraiser is sponsored by Anuradha Palakurthi Foundation, a project of The Giving Back Fund, the main benefactor of Vax.India.Now.

    Vax.India.Now is being produced by JuJu Productions, run by Anuradha and her husband Prashanth Palakurthi, Charles Goldstuck, Marc Johnston and Erich Bergen and Wizcraft International Entertainment and Neelesh Misra of Gaon Connection.

    Marc Pollick, President and Founder of The Giving Back Fund, said, “When our longtime Board member Prashanth Palakurthi proposed doing something truly significant on a worldwide scale to help his native India at this critical time, we jumped at the chance to help.

    “This is what we are built for – to mobilize quickly and provide assistance and philanthropic administration to help those in need. At this moment in time, the need in India must become the center of the universe.” 

  • AR Rahman, Mira Nair, Anupam Kher in BAFTA Breakthrough India jury

    By IANS
    MUMBAI: Ten winners from the fields of television, films and games, selected by a jury including AR Rahman, Anupam Kher and Mira Nair, are to receive one-to-one mentoring and career guidance at the BAFTA Breakthrough India Initiative, besides full voting BAFTA membership and access to BAFTA events and networking opportunities, in the UK and internationally.

    Artistes from across the country had applied for the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) initiative.

    Owing to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the jury met virtually to decide the winners. The jury also included filmmaker-writer Shonali Bose, producer Siddharth Roy Kapur, former BAFTA Breakthrough and Games Producer Charu Desodt , BAFTA Chair and TV Producer Krishnendu Majumdar, VP, Content, Netflix India Monika Shergill.

    Rahman said that he was honoured to be part of this panel.

    “BAFTA is a platform where artistes from around the world, including the best from India, are represented and celebrated, and it’s my honour to be a part of its Breakthrough India jury. There are many creatives in India who are looking to bring their art to the world, to showcase India’s vibrant and diverse culture, but unfortunately, they face traps both mental and external. The opportunity to discuss these blocks, to engage on issues of creativity, to make the right connections, to network and grow, would greatly benefit the plethora of talent we have in our country,” he said.

    He added: “Through Breakthrough, we offer artistes our knowledge and connectivity, as well as opportunities that’ll hopefully nurture their craft and help them leave their mark on the world. India is home to incredible artistes and I’m proud of us. It’s time we make our names known, it’s time we all shine.”

    “India has one of the most fascinating creative industries and is home to so many talented film, games and television practitioners. The BAFTA Breakthrough initiative will facilitate meaningful collaborations between creative communities globally and that is the one of most exciting, extraordinary parts of the initiative. We are so excited to be supporting the next generation of talent in India and look forward to working with them and offering unique career development, networking and promotion on a global stage,” Amanda Berry OBE, Chief Executive at BAFTA, whose initiative is supported by Netflix.

  • AR Rahman dedicates ‘Chale Chalo’ from ‘Lagaan’ to CSK skipper MS Dhoni

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman has dedicated ‘Chale Chalo’ from the movie Lagaan to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni as it motivates to play together. Rahman also dedicated the song ‘Mangta Hai Kya’ from the movie Rangeela to CSK all-rounder Suresh Raina.

    Speaking on Star Sports show Cricket Live, Rahman dedicated songs to CSK stars Dhoni and Raina, “I would like to dedicate the song ‘Chale Chalo’ from the movie Lagaan to MS Dhoni, as it motivates people to play cricket together. And for Suresh Raina, I would like to dedicate the song ‘Mangta Hai Kya’, because whenever I went to Bangalore, they were listening to a lot of songs from Rangeela.”

    Earlier in the day, former India batsman Gautam Gambhir said that Dhoni should bat at number four or five and not below that for his side.

    Dhoni generally comes in to bat at number 7 and in the first game against Delhi Capitals he failed to get going and got out for a two-ball duck. His side lost the game despite setting up a target of 189 as Shikhar Dhawan (85) and Prithvi Shaw (72) provided a flying start to the side and stitched a 138-run stand for the opening wicket.

    Speaking on Star Sports show Cricket Live, Gambhir said, “MS Dhoni should be batting higher, that’s what matters because ultimately people should start leading from the front. We keep mentioning this thing that a leader needs to lead from the front. You can’t be leading, when you’re batting at No.7. Yes, there are issues in their bowling line up.”

    Gautam further added that Dhoni is not as attacking as he used to be and it is better for him to bat up in the order and set his eyes on the ball. “Plus, he is not the MS Dhoni, which he used to be probably four or five years back, where he could just come in and start taking on the bowlers from the word go. For me, I think he needs to bat at number four/ five. Nothing below that,” Gambhir said.

    CSK will next play against Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.