A.R. Rahman to ‘Welcome’ Games Athletes http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2010/08/16/ar-rahman-to-welcome-commonwealth-athletes/
By Arlene Chang It’s official. Oscar-winning music composer A. R. Rahman’s song “Swagatham” (”Welcome”) will be the theme song for the Commonwealth Games to be held in Delhi this October. Mr. Rahman presented his song to a committee of ministers recently appointed to oversee the progress of the six-billion-dollar Games organization, which has been plagued by delays and accusations of corruption Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy heads the group, which includes Sports Minister M.S. Gill and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, among others. “The song is about energy, winning and not giving up,” composer Mr. Rahman said at a press conference organized Monday by the Games’ Organizing Committee. “Once you hear it I think you’ll like it.” Mr. Rahman seemed reluctant at first to reveal much more about the song, saying he was still tweaking the lyrics and that it would be released in 10 days. But the journalists were persistent. “It’s kind of ‘Waka Waka’?” one journalist asked, referring to the song Colombian pop star Shakira sang for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa this year. “Exactly no,” said Mr. Rahman. “We wanted to go further and do something else. And doing same thing like ‘Waka Waka’ was not my thing.” Finally Mr. Rahman sang the first line of the song: “Oh Yaaron! Yeh India, Bulaa Liya…(Oh Friends! India has called you…).” Watch: Pratik Prakashbapu Patil, India’s junior sports minister, told the Rajya Sabha, India’s upper house on Thursday that Mr. Rahman will sing the theme song at the opening ceremony for the Games. Mr. Rahman is being paid 55.5 million rupees ($1.1 million) for composing the song and for his appearance, inclusive of service tax. The Games organizers no doubt hope that Mr. Rahman can bring a little “Jai Ho” magic to the event. Last year Mr. Rahman won an Oscar for that song from the 2008 movie “Slumdog Millionaire,” which also won Best Picture in 2009. The movie won two Oscars for Mr. Rahman, including for original score and original song. With just 48 days to go, New Delhi’s Commonwealth Games and its organizing Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi have largely been generating negative publicity, prompting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to decide to personally review preparedness for the event that begins Oct. 3. “The Prime Minister said that the eyes of the world were on the country as we conduct this prestigious event,” said a statement from Mr. Singh’s office Saturday. “He urged all concerned to work single-mindedly so that the Games could be held in a manner the nation could be justifiably proud of.” ------------------------------------ Are you searching for a reason, to be kind? <b> Explore, Experience, Enjoy A.R.Rahman - The Man, The Music, The Magic. Only at arrahmanfans.com - The definitive A.R.Rahman e-community. Homepage: http://www.arrahmanfans.com Admin: [email protected] To Subscribe: [email protected] To Unsubscribe: [email protected]! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arrahmanfans/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arrahmanfans/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
