Labels

Wah man, says Dubai

DUBAI, December 10 2011: When A.R. Rahman rocks on a Friday night, the crowd wants more and the mood is heady.This was the concert they had been waiting for from their knight of entertainment, and the maestro from Madras had them waltzing with his varied compositions late into the night.
Die-hard fans trooped into the Dubai International Cricket Stadium from as early as 6pm, and they came from all over the UAE braving the long lines of traffic along the way. As the crowd swelled, the conversation before the musical crescendo was unmistakably Allah Rakha Rahman.
The singer-composer made a smashing entry to beats from Sivamani, which had fans cheering lustily. He got into his groove with Nadaan Parindey performed alongside Mohit Chauhan.
Dressed in a blue sherwani and jeans, Rahman said: “It’s so much fun to come back to my favourite city and this is the best audience in the world. Love you guys.”
Dil se set hearts thudding with a fiery blaze on stage alight. Rahman had hit the right note yet again and many wished the night would never end.
Mehnaz Saud and Shabina Afzal were among the first fans to reach the venue and ease their way through the gates.
“We came four hours before the gates opened and there is always a lot of excitement when Rahman performs. The show is nothing short of spectacular and it will be always remembered as one of the best concerts,” said Mehnaz.
For Naresh Kumar Goyal, a thousand flowers bloomed with the music. “I’ve loved his music from “Roja”. His work on the synthesizer has me coming for more. “Slumdog Millionaire” took him to the pinnacle,’” said the engineer who works in Ras Al Khaimah.
Others like Salma Ali said she preferred the Madras magician’s mix of Indian classical and Western fusion. “There’s something from him for every age group. His virtuosity is amazing,” she gushed.
“Every song Rahman creates is different from the other. There is a blend of western, classical and he is known to move with the times. He is one of the stars whose music resonates with people of all generations, be it a kid or a grown up. There is something magical about him,” said Mallika Ravi, who had come along with her friends Divya and Annie.
Affan Askari, who was also at the concert, said: “Rahman is a truly phenomenal performer and he brings so much energy to the stage. There is always something new when he performs and seeing him perform in Dubai is truly a dream come true.”