January is the month of Sydney arts festival. Many of the shows and performances are free to public in open arenas and parks. Most are by internationaly well known artists, some are really rare to see. ARR gesture to offer a free concert here is tuely commendable, especially dedicating to Indian students struggling to balance study, work and debts to get an overseas living experience. Hope Indian media doesn't twist it politically.
--- In [email protected], "yogesh2783" <yogesh2...@...> wrote: > > > I'm fearing Indian Media will blow it negatively!! > They'll probably say why is he doing concert when our people are being > attcked there? > > Regards > Yogesh > > --- In [email protected], "ramakrisha laxmana subramanian siva > gopala acharya iyer .aiyooo amma idli wada dosa sambar chatni ." > <sriramiyer15@> wrote: > > > > 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 <bivinchandra@> 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 > > > > > >
