i really hope the media wouldn't question AR's intentions here. As you know the media here loves to blow up things.
--- In [email protected], Bivin Chandra <bivinchan...@...> wrote: > > Slumdog composer reaches around the world in harmony > Matt Wade Herald Correspondent in New Delhi > August 11, 2009 > INDIA'S Oscar-winning pop icon, the Slumdog Millionaire composer A.R. Rahman, > wants to counter recent attacks on Indian students in Sydney and Melbourne > with a free concert during the Sydney Festival in January.''Considering the > recent hassles that have created a bad vibe I thought this concert would be a > statement of peace,'' he told the Herald yesterday.Rahman said he hoped to > deepen the connection between India and Australia.''I hope it will do what > ever it can to reunite culturally and spiritually,'' he said.Festival > organisers said Rahman suggested a free concert as a demonstration of > cultural diplomacy and a gesture of goodwill. It will be held at Parramatta > Park on Saturday, January 16. > ''This show is very important to me,'' said Rahman, who won two Academy > Awards for composing the soundtrack for the hit movie Slumdog Millionaire. > ''I hope it creates a bridge of understanding and love.''A series of attacks > on Indians studying in Australia over the past two months has received > widespread media coverage in India and damaged Australia's reputation as a > safe destination for students. > ''As a musician I believe in peace and I believe in the good nature of > people, so I feel that it was one of my duties to come and perform in what > ever way I could help building a bridge between both countries,'' Rahman > said.He hopes the concert will help break down cultural misunderstandings and > boost the morale of tens of thousands of Indians studying in > Australia.Rahman, 43, is a superstar in India, where film and pop music are > one. His film scores and soundtracks have achieved sales of more than 300 > million, making him one of the best-selling recording artists in the > world.Rahman has won 13 Filmfare Awards, four National Film Awards, a BAFTA > Award and a Golden Globe forSlumdog Millionaire.A Time magazine critic dubbed > him the ''the Mozart of Madras''.The film's anthem, Jai Ho, became an > international hit and Rahman promised fans to expect songs from the movie at > the Sydney concert.Rahman's friend, the Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann, > choreographed Rahman's performance of Jai Hoat this year's Oscar > ceremony.The song was used by the Congress Party as part of its triumphant > re-election campaign in May.Rahman has fond memories of playing to packed > crowds in Sydney and Melbourne in 2005.''They were probably some of the best > concerts we have ever done,'' he said. ''I want to re-create that in > Australia this time.''The Premier, Nathan Rees, congratulated Rahman for > ''his leadership and goodwill'' in offering to perform at the free > concert.''We all look forward to having him here next year.'' > > http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/music/slumdog-composer-reaches-out/2009/08/10/1249756256655.html >
