Rahman kicks off world tour after *Slumdog* glory Ashraf Padanna Thiruvananthapuram, May 5, 2009 <http://www.intoday.in/index.php> Music maestro A. R. Rahman kicked off his *Jai Ho*! A. R. Rahman Live world tour with a spectacular performance in Kozhikode on Saturday.
This will be his maiden world tour after his double Oscar-win for *Slumdog Millionaire* this year and the fourth such in his career. The proceeds of the live show—the first of 39 such concerts—will go for the rehabilitation of HIV-affected children. Though his itinerary for the world tour is yet be finalised, sources said he will perform in the Gulf, the US, Canada and East Asia, besides a number of north Indian stopovers during the next five years. Dressed in blue jeans and a white kurta, the Mozart of Madras took to the stage, singing* O Saya* from the film that won him the Academy awards. Kerala and Malayam films are not new to Rahman—his father R. K. Shekhar had spent most of his career setting scores for Malayalam films. But this was his first live concert in the state. “I have wanted to come here for 15 years,” he told the cheering audience in between the songs—in English, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam. “I will be delighted to return to Kozhikode,” he added. Among Rahman’s co-performers were Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam, K. S. Chitra and Javed Ali. http://www.intoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view§ionid=2&id=26397 -- regards, Vithur
