Kailash Kher steals limelight at Rahman concert

Delhi music aficionados were left wanting for more at the A.R. Rahman Unplugged concert on Tuesday (Aug 11) evening with no solo performance by the maestro. But their pulses were set racing by singer Kailash Kher who literally made them jig with an electrifying performance.

Kher kicked off the event with his band Kailasa with "Mangal mangal" from Aamir Khan starrer "Mangal Pandey: The Rising" setting the mood with backbeat percussions, thumps of drums and his high-pitched echoes.

Crooning songs like "Nachle", "Arziyan", "Swades", "Rang de basanti", "Tauba tauba", "Teri deewani", "Dunia ut patanga", the singer charged the Siri Fort auditorium with an electrifying energy while casting a dig at politicians.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni was present at the concert, organised by public broadcaster Doordarshan to celebrate its golden jubilee on September 15.

The audiences shouted for Rahman's hit "Jai ho" and "Maa tujhe salaam" but the Oscar winner tested their patience. He just made two mark-my-presence appearances to only take on the piano in the end with singers Hariharan, Sadhna Sargam and percussionist Sivamani for songs like "Tuhi re", "Bheeni bheeni", "Dreams on fire", "Ay hairathe" and "Bharat humko".

Thirty students from Rahman's K.M. Music Conservatory in Chennai also performed in a choir at the event, co-organised by Phat Phish Records.

Indo-Asian News Service

For daily celebrity news updates sign up for our newsletter www.masala.com/newsletter