For every 90's kid, A.R. Rahman's music has profoundly influenced our lives, shaping our thoughts, joys, sorrows, and the way we dance. His timeless melodies have left an indelible mark on us. Approximately 35,000 fans experienced this magic first-hand at the AR Rahman Live in KL 2024 concert, which commenced at 8:25 PM.

Bringing back the golden era of music with a touch of nostalgia, the iconic 90s hits of AR Rahman were flawlessly organised, taking us back in time with songs that defined an era. Orchestrated as a real retro experience, the concert was graced by Malaysian Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, along with Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk R Ramanan.




The arrival of G.O.A.T!


From the moment Mozart of Madras appeared, the crowd was whipped into a frenzy with his Oscar-winning anthem, ‘Jai Ho’ from Slumdog Millionaire following with ‘Ellappugazhum Oruvan Oruvanukke’.

The solid three-and-a-half-hour concert saw a perfect combo of cameo performances from his talented troupe comprising notable playback singers such as Mano, Srinivas, Shweta Mohan, Shakthisree Gopalan, Shuba Vedula, Nakul Abhyankar, A.R. Ameen, who definitely inherited his father's musical genes, Rap King Blaaze, and the dynamic duo ADK and Sri Rascol thoughtform who added their own spark to the night.






With that let’s look at the fantastical moments that had us feeling euphoric!

1. When AR Rahman’s voice maneuverer through humming of Kappaleri Poyachu…


……La la lala la la la la (Indian)

It was a surreal moment to witness it LIVE. As he says it’s going to be a tribute to veteran actor Kamal Haasan’s Indian 2 that is currently screening in cinemas, every heart in that stadium skipped a beat and the audience was swept into another world. Indeed, an awestruck moment to watch the musical genius just took the mic and sang that BGM which he composed 28 years ago. What a euphonious voice!


2. Shuba’s electrifying energy throughout the show was an absolute showstopper!

Her powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence had the entire stadium on their feet, dancing and singing along to every beat. From 'Mukkala Mukkabala' to 'Chandralekha' and 'Raavadi', with her infectious energy, she truly brought the house down with her sensational performance. Indeed, she had the entire stadium in the palm of her hand!




3. A sea of flashlights for Shakthisree Gopalan’s Nenjukulle


Mesmerizing, enchanting, and simply breath-taking - these are just a few words that come to mind when describing the solo performance of the ever-beautiful crooner at the concert. The sea of flashlights in the dark, the power of her voice, and the spectrum of emotions she evoked in the audience - it was a sight to behold. And let's not forget the show-stopping duet performance with AR Ameen for ‘Ninaivirukka’- truly a musical masterpiece.




4. What would an AR Rahman concert be without the intense energy from the band?


Perfecto!

On the keyboards, drum, bass and strings were notable names like Ranjit Barot, Nilanjana Ghosh Dastidar, Nakul Abhyankar, Ashwin and Keba Jeremiah. Captivated by the sheer elegance and grace of Nilanjana, as she flawlessly strummed her guitar, all while gracefully draped in a saree throughout the entire show. You truly slay, girl!

5. Energetic & Power Packed rap performance


What do you get when you combine raw talent, fierce energy, and undeniable stage presence?

The answer: a powerhouse performance by these 4 ah-mazing rappers!

ADK, Shuba, Sri Rascol and Blaaze brought their A-game and had the crowd on their feet with hits like ‘Magudi’, ‘Thalli Pogathey’, ‘Chikku Bukku Rayile’, ‘Petta Rap’ and many more.From their killer beats to their smooth flows, they definitely brought the heat and set the stage on fire. The energy was off the charts as they sang their hearts out and had the crowd on their feet all night long.

Not to forget the spectacularly choreographed dancers were a mix of hip-hop and classical Indian dance, Bharatanatyam - the perfect combination for the iconic Minsara Kanna song. Srinivas and Shweta were a bomb for this song! With the music and dancing and lights, it was all just spectacular!

We cannot overlook the soothing Swarnalatha’s "Porale Ponnuthaye," Chitra’s magical "Kannalane," or Sujatha Mohan’s "Thillana Thillana." All these iconic songs were perfectly performed by Singer Shweta and effortlessly captured the emotions of all three pieces, showcasing her exceptional talent. Such a wonderful singer she’s!





It was 31 years ago, a young musician by the name of A.R. Rahman was introduced to the world by the legendary Maniratnam in the movie Roja. Little did we know, we were witnessing the birth of a true musical genius who makes wonder in his meta band project, 'Secret Mountain' as he integrates music with unique storytelling to create a virtual realm of wonder. This man truly knows how to make music that touches our souls and transports us to another world.

Let’s give a huge shout-out to Star Planet who has organised this jaw-dropping concert of this year also not to forget the stage production, complemented by state-of-the-art audio-visual technology and over 30 dancers with spectacular choreography, provided an exhilarating and worthwhile experience. The stage was curated to ensure excellent sound quality, adhering to the artist's high standards.

A special mention for the splendid live sound mixing - Karthik Sekaran as well as Riyasdeen and the sudio director Warren D'souza. You guys have nailed it!




From belting out ‘Mukkala Mukkabala’ from Kadhalan (1994), Thillana Thillana from Muthu (1995), Kannalane from Bombay (1995), Enna Solla Pogirai from Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000), and ending with ‘Ararai kodi’ from Anbe Aaruyire (2005), the song selection was simply brilliant.

One word to simply how the audience felt throughout the concert - EXTRAVAGANZA!

Image Courtesy: Star Planet