A.R Rahman concert amazing sucess in Parramatta [image: A.R. Rahman & Mayor Cr Garrard]
A.R. Rahman & Mayor Cr Garrard by StreetCorner 19/01/2010 Parramatta was transported to India on Saturday night as a free concert by superstar composer A.R. Rahman turned the city into a spectacular mix of colour, light, dancing and music that would not have been out of place in a Bollywood blockbuster. The concert, held in Parramatta Park as part of the Sydney Festival, was estimated to have attracted 75,000 visitors to the area. They were treated to an amazing show as A.R. Rahman performed a three hour set, backed by an entourage of more than 40 musicians and Bollywood dancers on stage. “It is an honour that A.R. Rahman chose to give his one Australian concert here in Parramatta,” said Lord Mayor of Parramatta, who presented A.R. Rahman with a framed photograph of his Parramatta performance after the concert. “A.R. Rahman wanted to make a bold statement about building bridges of peace between cultural communities, and the great atmosphere and mix of people in the crowd showed he has achieved that,” Cr Garrard said. “The fact that this great event was held in Parramatta reflects our own diversity and is a positive reflection on how cultural harmony can be achieved,” he said. “This is a sentiment we plan to expand with our partner Events NSW when we bring Parramasala – the Australian Festival of South Asian Art to Parramatta in November this year. A. R. Rahman said he hoped his concert would be an important step in making positive change for the relationship between India and Australia. “I believe there is a need at the moment to work on building relationships, and I think we can make this change through music,” he said. “Coming to Parramatta has been very positive; the crowd was great and it was a good step in making a change and building better understanding for everyone in this community.” Cr Garrard led a Council delegation to the VIP section of the concert to discuss the positive community impacts of the concert and the upcoming Parramasala. He also met with the Indian Consul-General Amit Dasgupta. “The A.R. Rahman concert was a great evening that is a good example of what the relationship between our two countries should be about,” said Mr Dasgupta. “The night was filled with songs that embraced Indian, Western and Asian influences, which connected the hearts and minds of attendees regardless of their ethnic background. A.R. Rahman is a great ambassador for contemporary India and I believe Parramatta to be the ideal location for him to showcase his extraordinary talents.” “The large Indian community of Parramatta area loved the concert and are deeply appreciative that it was held in Parramatta,” Mr Dasgupta said. “It was a curtain raiser to many more events in Parramatta, including Parramasala later in the year. Just as ‘masala’ (meaning ‘spices’) adds that extra zing to cuisine, Parramatta’s diverse cultures living together in harmony and togetherness adds that extra zing to Parramatta.” After the concert thousands of visitors flocked to the centre of Parramatta where Parramatta City Council had arranged street entertainment and colourful light displays. Local businesses were decorated with Indian themes while restaurants and cafes opened late to welcome happy concert-goers before and after the event. Roving entertainers added colour to the area and wayfinding staff were on hand to help patrons find their way around the city. “The infrastructure and transport arrangements that we put in place, in conjunction with our partners at the RTA, CityRail, NSW Police and Sydney Festival, have helped Parramatta to deliver such a successful major event and highlights once again our excellent event-hosting capability,” said Cr Garrard. http://www.streetcorner.com.au/news/showPost.cfm?bid=13140&mycomm=WC -- - Regards ~ ~ A.R.Rajib ~ ~
