AR Rahman had to be pushed on stage for his first ever concert, recalls concert director: ‘About 40,000 people went crazy’

Oscar winning music composer AR Rahman was invited to perform his first-ever concert at Malaysia’s Stadium Shah Alam.

AR Rahman had his first ever concert in Malaysia.

AR Rahman became a national sensation after the success of Roja in 1992. Just a few years later, in 1996, he was invited to perform his first-ever concert at Malaysia’s Stadium Shah Alam. The show featured several singers, but the crowd’s anticipation for Rahman’s entry was unmatched. What they didn’t know was that the composer himself was battling extreme nerves backstage.

In an interview with O2 India, Deepak Gattani, the concert director at Rahman’s debut concert, vividly recalled the moment, “This was Rahman’s first-ever concert. We had planned the entire show flow. The countdown began, and the crowd was going wild. I was at the console, asking, ‘Where is Rahman?’ But he was inside, praying.”

Also Read | Akshay Kumar says he eats dinner at 6:30 pm, fasts every Monday: ‘My last meal is on Sunday night, I don’t eat anything till…’

Story continues below this ad

Things grew tense when AR Rahman refused to step out from his room. Gattani revealed how they had to literally push him onto the stage. “One of our team members, Savio, rushed to get him. He came back and said, ‘Sir, he is not coming out. Rahman is stiff, saying he doesn’t want to go on stage.’ Finally, Savio literally pushed him onto the stage.”

Despite his hesitation, the moment AR Rahman appeared under the spotlight, the 40,000-strong crowd erupted. Deepak Gattani recalled, “He stood there, looking down with a small, shy smile before moving behind the keyboard. Throughout the show, he remained reserved. When you see him today, you realize what a huge transformation it has been.”

Also Read | ‘Not a single fan approached Rajesh Khanna at the airport after his downfall’: Actor Nausheen recalls witnessing tragic sight

Just two years later, in 1998, AR Rahman’s Dubai concert drew such massive crowds that police had to resort to lathi charge due to a stampede, with nearly 5,000 people turned away.

Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.

Tags:
AR Rahman

Asaduddin Owaisi said India should “accept the popular revolution” that has taken place in Dhaka and work towards good relations with Bangladesh’s current regime. (Express photo)

Owaisi: ‘If govt wants to deport Bangladeshis, why not deposed leader Sheikh Hasina?’

Political Pulse29 min ago

Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM chief, criticized Indian government for targeting Bengali migrants and urged them to send back former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina. He warned that the SIR process in Bihar could exclude genuine citizens, especially Muslims, from voter lists. Owaisi also condemned the government's silence on Gaza conflict, accusing it of indirectly supporting Israel's military campaign.

View all shorts

More Entertainment

Entertainment Tehran: John Abraham's geopolitical thriller isn't smarter than a fifth grader, no matter how many newspapers it reads