AR Rahman Live in Concert 2011 Dubai - A Real Review

Show was in Dubai International Cricket Stadium – Commercial city of United Arab Emirates. I'd been to this fabulous stadium once for a cricket match, it was long time ago when the stadium just opened for matches. Construction sites everywhere, no proper road, no proper signs. Expecting to change things dramatically like real Dubai within few years was my mistake; nothing had changed, still in very awkward situation!

Show starts at 9 pm according to the event organizers, gate will open at 5 pm for the public. Get there to the stadium was easy, as I left home at 3pm; Fridays are holidays here, so no traffic jams one usually anticipates on Emirates road. But same problems persists, no proper road leading to the stadium, fine dust fog will cover your car if you happen to follow one in the front. Somehow parked the car and took a long walk to the stadium. Nice; I can hear music practice going on inside the stadium, AR Rahman crooning for his favorite numbers, may be they are checking the speaker and light settings one last time before the show starts.

AR Rahman's Grand Entry. 

Definitely Video is not doing justice to the real time experience.

There were a lot of people came even before me, its winter here; very comfortable weather (winter temperature is roughly 24 degree Celsius in this part of the world, almost summer time temp in western countries) I had a ticket for Premium Grand Stand that costs AED 250 (approximately $70). One security guard asked me to go to the other side of the stadium where the Grand Stand entry is. Some Egyptian security guards are there too, when I asked a guy who was always shouting at his colleagues seems like knowing everything about that stadium and event instructed me to stay there in the queue and that is the entry for VIP and Grand Stand ticket holders. I got relieved looking back to the queue; it was growing like an anaconda, decision to come early is paid off. All of a sudden that same guard came out and shouted “this is only for VIP and Standing ticket holders!” I got surprised; what the fuck is he saying? How come you put VIP and standing ticket holders together through one entry? Apparently nobody has a clue about the whole thing! I had a small spat with the guy who mislead me. Now I have to find the Gate 15, and for sure I will be the last one in the queue. No signage, nothing is written at the entrance except the gate number. Luckily the queue was just forming as the guides themselves just found out where the Premium Grand Stand gate is; so many unlucky ticket holders are just finding their right entry from different other queues where there were initially in.

People started pouring in, queue got larger and larger, the gate opened at 6 pm instead of 5 pm which they initially announced. It was very cold out there; because of open area and probably higher from the sea level the cold wind is blowing through hair and ears.

AR Rahman at his best! Humma Humma!

My initial feeling of seeing the stage was not very impressive; stadium too is not at all a big one comparing to other stadiums in the country. I chose a very good seating position where I can watch without any disturbance. Seats are dirty; I cleaned with bare hand and washed the hand with the mineral water which I bought it for AED 10. Outside I can buy 10 bottles for that money. OK, that’s how the events make money. That’s why they don’t allow bringing any food or beverages to the stadium as well.

Crowd started building, but not that much as I expected, or was I expecting too much? On time 9 pm the whole lights gone off, the stage bathed in a pool of blue light. Huge roar from the crowd…

Then beam of lights started blinking there and here with the escort of Sivamani’s drum skills. A thunderous clap and roar from the crowd, the reason, there is a man standing in the middle of the stage like a silhouette. It just looked like he appeared from the smoke. More lights to the man, his face showed on the big screens that placed both sides of the stage. With a goggle. Unmistakably he is the reason for all these people are here including me!  In unremitting clap and cheer, a very familiar voice rose up

“Nadaan Parinthey…” AR Rahman!

Surprisingly the sound quality wasn’t good enough. Stage was superb with a lot of digital displays and projector lights, the sound quality wasn’t up to the mark compare to ARR’s other music concerts. Not even close. There is no pristine sound, it all sounded like under the blanket! The sound engineer should be fired or cut his salary for two events!

Aaromale.... Superb rock!

As usual AR Rahman stole the show. He was there from the beginning to end. Incredible energy, superb selection of songs, still you will carve for more from the maestro. This time he did not come with a lot of established singers like Hariharan, K.S Chitra, Sukhvinder Singh, SPB etc. And that shows in the show. I think from now on AR Rahman should take at least Hariharan with him! Whatever it takes; he can lift the whole event into another level. No doubt!

Shivamani was in full form, so is Stephen Devasya. Mohit Chouhan is one lucky bastard, now he is the new talk of the town, sharing the stage with none other than AR Rahman! The Rock Star Movie changed his fortune, became a very busy man and even bigger celebrity over night!

Slum dog Millionaire music bit...

My pick of the lot from the event is the Rock version of "Chiku buku chiku buku railay" sung by AR Rahman’s childhood buddy Suresh Peters! It was mind blowing! I think with those heavy metal rock beats and lead guitar; even today it can be a block buster! Even after nearly 19 years it sounds fresh and joyful!

Another master piece was ARR’s combination song with the great Lata Mangeshker where he played the track of the legendary singer and her video showed on display screens. It almost looked like she was there in the stage singing with AR Rahman. Great idea and execution.

Next one is where a Saxophone player (kindly let me know his name if anybody knows – definitely not Kadri Gopalnath) came to the stage and started playing cat and mouse game with the crowd. He plays one piece and crowd repeats it, it lasted a minute or so, people started laughing and suddenly a very familiar tune he played along with Shivamani’s big bang drums. It swept me off the ground! OMG, crowd erupted, people gone mad…

It was the very famous “ Humma Humma” song from the Maniratnam movie Bombay! Unbelievable response from the crowd, AR Rahman sang the song. No rap insertions, neither Blazee nor Fernadous. Still it sounded too good!

Alphonse sang the rock number “Aaromale…” perfectly. He won few young hearts for sure as there was loud applause from the audience.

Finally the youth anthem, the happening number…

Sadaa Haq!

Again wonderful rock music, I only hoped for the better sound quality.

AR Rahman packed up with his patriotic song Vande Matharam.

It was a 3 hour show, while coming out of the stadium I was carving for more like thousands there, 3 hours are very little time.

Torture again to come out of the stadium; I must say driving centimeters away from the car in front is a skill. Only one way available for all those thick crowd to go out. It took more than an hour just to go out of the stadium area.

Very bad organizing, very bad event management, really bad location, and poor sound quality. Despite of all these shortcomings I would definitely go again if there is an AR Rahman show. He is rewriting even the way the music show is conducted on the stage! He is god gifted real Rock Star! His humbleness and way of talking like an innocent child would melt your heart. His voice is recognizable even in sleep. When he dedicated two songs to his fans by saying “these songs are only for you” everyone sitting there including me felt personal.

Thank you AR Rahman for endless entertainment; thanks for surprising us with your sheer innovation and guts to experiment. You are the music guru, and you will be the only one!

Jai Ho Rahman!