Rahman for

from 2010-01 Sydney (1)

PREITY PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR WIDOWS

By DARSHAK MEHTA

Waugh told me that he was stunned at the sheer size of the crowd (“mate, it stretches for a mile”) when he gave Rahman a rousing introduction, prior to the concert. His speech was certainly one of the highlights of the evening. He called Rahman the “Sachin Tendulkar” of music, regretted the recent attacks in Melbourne on Indian students, reiterated that Indian students were welcome in our country and asked that they be treated with the same respect and friendliness that Australian cricketers experience in India.

About five years ago, the laudable Melbourne based organisation CHARINDAA had organised a couple of A.R. Rahman concerts in Australia and donated $ 120,000 to the Steve Waugh Foundation. Waugh, along with wife Lynette, attended that concert, as well.

will India learn?

Indian Consul General to Sydney, Amit Dasgupta was of course in attendance and played a pivotal role in briefing A.R. Rahman on the student attacks issue. The result was a polished performance by Rahman in his press conference.

Rahman’s songs from Roja, Dil Se and Taal were well received as were his renditions of Khwaja mere Khwaja, Vande Matram (Maa Tuuje Salaam), Mustafa amongst others.

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He said it at the Oscars but he could have well meant this memorable line for us, here in Sydney.

A.R. Rahman, Indian music’s first truly international superstar rocked Sydney at the Sydney Festival’s free concert at Parramatta Park on Sunday, 17 January 2010.

Waugh was at the Parramatta Park concert with daughter Rosie and sat with Indian High Commissioner Mrs Sujatha Singh. The HC thought it significant that Rahman considered it as “the most important concert of my life”.

Chhaiyan, Chhaiyan was sung by Rahman’s elder sister Reyhana. Incidentally, his younger sister Ishrat was a part of the troupe as well. One of the highlights of the evening was Jai Ho – of course. The crowd, who had been anticipating the hit song from Slumdog Millionaire, were on their feet, instantly. The synchronised fireworks display accompanying it, had an electrifying effect, though sadly, marking the end of the evening.

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It is thought that around 70,000 people attended the concert – though, how one accurately estimates large crowds is an enduring mystery!

Australian cricket legend and notorious India lover Steve

Amongst other high profile attendees was NSW Premier Kristina Kenneally who was there with husband, Ben. Ex NSW Premier Nathan Rees was there throughout the evening as was Minister David Borger. Minister for the Arts Virginia Judge, attended later on in the evening.

It is refreshing to see Australian politicians with a human touch and without any airs, whatsoever. True egalitarianism. No trappings of power such as oppressive security etc. When

I might also mention the flawless performance of the background instrumental score of Mausam and Escape from the soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire – in which the sarod was played with dynamic crescendo and particular verve. The dancing was high voltage with well orchestrated (though, brief!) forays into the crowd by both the dancers and singers.

Hariharan, with his dulcet tones, was particularly impressive in his signature song, Tu Hi Re from Bombay

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And, Blaze, was his usual live-wire act - whether rapping, dancing or singing. He was like the Energiser bunny

The jarring note of the evening was not the light rain, but the poor quality of the sound.

And one of the disappointments for me personally was the lack of adequate opportunity for dynamic percussionist Sivamani to display his skill. He would have brought the house down (and, rocked the next few suburbs!) anything constructive out of the incidents of violence against Indian students (mainly in Melbourne). Some of the lessons of the Rahman concert might provide pointers. against people of Indian origin in Australia as racist. The Australian authorities need to admit this, even if it embarrasses them. A simple statement such as this will go a long way to soothe community fears: “Yes, regrettably, there is racism around and we find it reprehensible in any form. We are trying to deal with it, change community attitudes whilst coming down hard on those who attack this very core value of civilised society”

However, all in all, it was a sensational spectacle, a great concert and full marks to the Sydney Festival and the NSW Government for enticing Rahman to perform. Rahman was undoubtedly motivated by altruistic factors.

Though all parties concerned have mouthed the usual pious stuff about how this concert was about “bringing Australia and India together, promoting cultural harmony, solidarity, friendship, goodwill” etc. etc. it is difficult not to be cynical whether any of this can be achieved, yet? At best, this is a good beginning. There certainly need to be many more of these cultural exchanges which can only help in promoting greater understanding and appreciation amongst the local populace which obviously is hostile and feeling threatened at the sudden change in the demographic mix.

For a start, the overwhelming number of people who attended the show were of Indian extraction. There could not have been more than 10 % Caucasian-Australians in the crowd - which must disappoint advocates of Indo-Australian friendship. The Sydney Festival and all concerned must do some soul searching – how come white Australians were largely missing even though the other Indian act of the Sydney Festival “The Manganiyar Seduction” was so overwhelmingly patronised by white Australians?

The absence of any untoward incident reported by the police at the A R Rahman concert should give all governments food for thought. It might be mentioned that the police presence was highly visible and yet, unobtrusive. Simple lesson: visible police presence equals trouble-free events and safer suburbs.

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In any case, it is also well known that Indians are amongst the most law abiding minorities everywhere in the world, so the lack of untoward incidents should not come much of a surprise!

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Ultimately, respect for culture will hopefully flow on to respect for the individual – obviously missing, currently.

Governments in Australia are going to have to act simultaneously on several fronts if they have to salvage

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Bringing alcohol into the venue was banned though limited service was available from licensed areas in the park. Alcohol has become a serious, alarming societal issue throughout Australia and must have a deleterious bearing on the violent, abusive occurrences towards Indian students. The fact that most of the behaviour manifests itself at night is another pointer to its pernicious influence. Was it a mere co-incidence that little or no alcohol = no incidents?

The Police, State Governments and the Federal Government are in full denial mode about racism existing in any substantial form in Australia but this is as flawed an argument (and, one which flies in the face of facts) as the claim by the feral Indian media which labels every incident

All in all, a fantastic night for the 70,000 odd at Parramatta Park, hundreds of thousands who watched it on ABC 2, a night of harmony and high class entertainment for lovers of music and those thrilled by big spectacles and a night when the music of the “Mozart of Madras” resonated with the souls of thousands of Sydneysiders, a night when the prestigious Sydney Festival embraced the Indian Australian community in its fold.