Bollywood's message of harmony - By Brittany Stack - From:The Sunday Telegraph <http://www.sundaytelegraph.com.au/> - January 10, 2010 12:00AM
- Increase Text Size <http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/help/textsize/> - Decrease Text Size <http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/help/textsize/> - Print <http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/help/print/> - Email<?subject=Bollywood's%20message%20of%20harmony%20(DailyTelegraph%20Article)&body=DailyTelegraph%0A%0ABollywood's%20message%20of%20harmony%0A%0AFrom:%20DailyTelegraph%0AJanuary%2010,%202010%0ATHE%20Oscar-wining%20composer%20of%20the%20Slumdog%20Millionaire%20soundtrack,%20A.%20R.%20Rahman%20will%20arrive%20in%20Sydney%20this%20week%20to%20perform%20a%20free%20concert%20as%20a%20statement%20of%20peace%20between%20his%20home%20country,%20India,%20and%20Australia.%0AAlternatively,%20you%20can%20copy%20and%20paste%20this%20link%20into%20your%20browser:%20%0Ahttp://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/story-fn4guuui-1225817669063> - Share <http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/help/share> [image: The arrival] Big fans ... Actors rehearse a scene in The Arrival before their performance at the Sydney Festival. Pic: Tom Hancock *Source:*The Sunday Telegraph *THE Oscar-wining composer of the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack, A. R. Rahman will arrive in Sydney this week to perform a free concert as a statement of peace between his home country, India, and Australia.* Rahman, from Chennai, said "it is a great feeling" to be performing in Australia and it presents the perfect opportunity to bridge gaps and bring generations together. India's pop icon, who brought contemporary Indian music to the world through Slumdog Millionaire, will perform in Parramatta Park on January 16 as part of the Sydney Festival. Festival First Night was a huge success last night; hubs of the Sydney CBD came alive with around 250,000 revellers enjoying the free events. Over the next three weeks, Sydney will become the stage for many international film actors including The Shawshank Redemption's Tim Robbins, who is performing alongside ARIA-winner Sarah Blasko and Little Birdy's Katy Steele in Rogues Gallery. Red Leap Theatre directors Kate Parker and Julie Nolan said they were inspired to bring the graphics of the book to life on the stage.Another event expected to be a hit is a physical theatre production based on Australian author Shaun Tan's award-winning picture book The Arrival. During the play, actors will become parts of the set, then shift back into character in what the directors hope to be an extraordinary manipulation of images. "It's a very physical performance," Ms Parker said. "Our actors need to be very physically fit and in tune with one another." Concerts in The Domain will continue throughout the course of the Festival, including Symphony In The Domain on January 23 and Opera In The Domain starring Good News Week's Paul McDermott on January 30. Embracing Asian and South Pacific cultures is one of the key aims of the Festival agenda,, with Indian music and performance making up a large part of the content. Rahman said he is excited to bring Bollywood performance to an Australian audience."You come here (to Australia) and see a whole new generation," he said. "It's challenging to rediscover and learn to cater to a younger audience. I don't think it existed before." Rahman, 44, has achieved sales of more than 300 million for his film scores and soundtracks, making him one of the best-selling recording artists in the world. As well as winning two Academy Awards for composing the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack, Rahman has won 13 Filmfare Awards, four National Film Awards, a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe. His outdoor spectacular will showcase his work over the past 18 years, including popular hit Jai Ho. The stage will come alive with an entourage of more than 40 musicians and Bollywood dancers. The Manganiyar Seduction, a troop of 43 Rajasthan musicians, performed a dazzling theatrical music performance at Festival First Night last night and have more shows lined up this week. Crowds also turned out to see legendary Al Green perform a selection of his soul classics at a free concert in The Domain, Hyde Park became a spice garden with live Indian music and performances, and Martin Place morphed into a night-long soul-and-swing session. Further information including dates for upcoming events can be found at the Sydney Festival website www.sydneyfestival.org.au http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/bollywoods-message-of-harmony/story-fn4guuui-1225817669063 -- - Regards ~ ~ A.R.Rajib ~ ~
