Rahman’s concert set list included some of M S Subbulakshmi’s Carnatic favourites.
Indian Music maestro A R Rahman rocked the United Nation General Assembly on the occasion of India’s 70th Independence Day.
The Oscar award winning music director’s performance paid tribute to a fellow musician from his city Chennai, the legendary M S Subbulakshmi whose birth centenary is being marked this year.
The concert took place 50 years after M S Subbulakshmi performed at the UN General Assembly hall on 23 October 1966, invited by then Secretary-General U Thant.
Rahman’s concert set list included some of M S Subbulakshmi’s Carnatic favourites and his own super hit songs.
“It feels really, really good. I think 1966 was just one year before I was born. It’s been 50 years. So, (it was) coming back in a special way to celebrate one of my city’s icons, one of India’s icons- MS Subbulakshmiji,†Rahman was quoted by NDTV.
Rahman’s backing band was the Sunshine Orchestra, formed by underprivileged children trained in classical music.
“Music has given me everything, this is a small thing in return,†Rahman said about the special backup.
A Photo Exhibition about M S Subbulakshmi’s life and times is also arranged on 15-19 August, 2016 at the United Nations. It depicts various facets and moment’s and provides a rare insight to the music legend’s achievements.
United Nations Postal Administration will issue a stamp to mark the birth centenary of Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi.
Social Media Updates:
AR Rahman captures the hearts of audience with "DIL SE" @UNGA #IndependenceDayIndia #india@70 #ARRahman pic.twitter.com/kGVTdYFBTa
— India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) August 16, 2016
Amazing #music by @arrahman at #UnitedNations. Celebrating #IndependenceDayIndia. @AkbaruddinIndia @IndiaDPRNewYork pic.twitter.com/tKiXwpH23R
— David Roet🇮🇱 (@DavidRoet) August 16, 2016