http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/music/pure-bollywood-but-the-message-is-serious/2010/01/17/1263663016537.html
ure Bollywood, but the message is serious
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Story to tell ... the Oscar-winning megastar A.R. Rahman captivated the
70,000-strong audience in Parramatta on Saturday night with a spectacular
musical show.
Photo: James Alcock
A.R. RAHMAN
Parramatta Park, January 16
MORE than a concert, this was a gesture: A.R. Rahman performed for free as an
affirmation that the friendship between Australians and Indians cannot be
fractured by moronic and violent element. These sentiments were echoed by the
Premier, Kristina Keneally, in launching the concert.
She then welcomed to the stage that most popular of Australians in India, the
former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh, who eloquently expressed his own
distress at the violence. He went on to describe Rahman as the Sachin Tendulkar
of music.
Given that Tendulkar may be the second finest batsman in the game's history,
that is to somewhat overstate Rahman's significance (as does his ''Mozart of
Madras'' tag), but Waugh's good-natured words were enthusiastically received.
Rahman was rapturously welcomed by what was probably the largest gathering of
Indians ever seen in Australia, among the 70,000-plus crowd. His international
recognition results from having composed the score for the multiple
Oscar-winning movie, Slumdog Millionaire. His success in India was already
stupendous, built upon albums, concerts and soundtracks.
His appeal lies in an ability to cross and mix genres and clearly he is a
gifted composer and singer. But what emerged on the night was largely trite pop
music made into dance spectaculars via dozens of colourful, cavorting bodies, a
vast lighting rig and even fireworks. Visually it became an apotheosis of
kitsch, rather like Olympic opening and closing ceremonies. But that's
Bollywood.
Meanwhile, my internal organs were being rearranged courtesy of the force of
the bass end of the PA - something of no concern to a four-year-old girl in
front of me, who danced happily throughout, and had all the moves.
Rahman was only an intermittent star of his own show, often leaving the stage
to the huge cast of singers, dancers and expert musicians, and occasionally
leaving the trivial for a fleeting taste of the sumptuous tradition of Indian
classical music, somewhat diluted.
The arrival of the forecast showers did little to dampen the crowd's
excitement, which grew to hysteria when the big hit Jai Ho ( Victory to You )
was finally unleashed.
The music may largely have been trifling, but the message was vital. The
violence is reprehensible; the friendship must be lasting.
