Wake Up: AR Rahman with 150 All Stars

I went for this concert yesterday evening, at the Eastern Michigan University convocation center. AR Rahman (as with many other people) is my favorite Indian music composer from the present times. I was curious about the concert, knowing that he wasn't on a big tour with a lot of Bollywood personalities, but rather performing with 150 all stars.

The all stars, apparently, were students from EMU and from Miami University, Ohio. They had learned and reinterpreted Rahman's music in their own style. It was a refreshing look at Rahman's music, performed in a style alien to Bollywood.

Choir singers, a four-violin and cello string section, many drums and cymbals, a tabla, flute and keyboards (Rahman) formed the orchestra, conducted by Ethan Perry. The concert began with a very powerful rendition of "Ramta Jogi" and "Taal Se Taal Milaa" from Taal. The mostly Indian audience was a little surprised by the multiracial group, singing in perfect Hindi. Their voices were strong, and a little different in key from the originals.

The concert proceeded on an interesting pattern - live music and choir-style singing of Rahman's songs, interspersed with "karaoke" of Rahman's recorded music with live singing by Rahman himself, Vasundhara Das, and a couple of young singers from the choir. It even included a dance performance that used Rahman's "Rang De" from a CD! On the whole, an odd mix of performances!

The choice of songs in each particular style was very good. The choir performed some songs obviously suited to their style (Veerapandi Kottayilae, Thee Thee, and a fabulous rendition of Zikr), Rahman and Vasundhara Das crooned/ lip-synced some songs (Khalbali, Dil Se Re, Maa Tujhe Salaam for Rahman; Shakalaka Baby, Ik Onkar, Yaaro Yaarodi for Vasundhara Das). The young white American who performed "Rang De Basanti" was fabulous - with his "twanged" punjabi; the group of girls who performed "Paathshaalaa" fit the rebellious mood of the songs well.

On the whole, an enjoyable experience.

Some notes from the concert

- Rahman seemed to be enjoying himself, listening to the choir perform his songs in a new style. He appeared to be intrigued by the idea, and impressed by the results.

- After almost every song, a different announcer came on stage and heaped lavish praise on Rahman - talk about beating your own drum (and also, "preaching to the choir!")

- The EMU president made a speech welcoming Rahman and his music to the institution. After the intermission, Rahman was handed a key to the city of Ypsilanti by the city mayor. Quite a honor!

- It was announced that Rahman is funding and providing other support for the first "Conservatory for Western Classical Music" in India, to be set up in Chennai.

- Indians in America don't seem to behave very differently from those back home. There were more catcalls, whistles, rude gestures, and other kinds of bad behavior than any other event I have attended in America. I wonder what it is that makes us such bad spectators.

- The global nature of music was made amply obvious. As the choir singers of many backgrounds twisted their tongues to get the Tamil and Hindi sounds right, I thought of the quite unreal scene in front of me. I have witnessed Western Classical concerts with a multiracial orchestra. I hadn't imagined seeing such a performance of popular hindi music. It was inspiring to see that so many young people of diverse backgrounds found this music enjoyable, and could perform it so well! Seems like great days are ahead in terms of musical collaboration around the world!