A magical AR Rahman night to remember

Oscar-winning Indian musician AR Rahman mesmerized the audience including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with his magical performance at the concert titled ‘Cricket Celebrates Mujib 100’ in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Organised by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, the concert was arranged as part of the board’s celebration of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

AR Rahman sang songs titled ‘Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu’ and ‘Bolo Joy Bangabandhu’ on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangladesh.

The two songs were written by Bangladeshi lyricist Zulfiqar Russell and composed by Rahman himself.

BCB President Nazmul Hasan, BCB directors Ismail Haider Mallick and Sheikh Sohail, and others were present at the concert at Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

The gates of the venue were opened from 4:30pm. The crowds began to grow swiftly as the evening approached.

The first slot of the concert started with the national anthem at 5:00pm. The concert began with a mellow performance by the band ‘Miles’ with their hit song titled ‘Chand Tara Surja’. Miles entertained the audience by performing a few more of their popular songs including ‘Neela’.

Their performance was followed by singer Momtaz’s brilliant show that made the audience sing with her. She sang her hit songs titled ‘Pankha’ and ‘Local Bus’, ‘Amar Ghum Bhangaiya Gelo Re’, ‘Nantu Ghataker Kotha Shuina’. Momtaz’s two daughters – Rohani and Rose – performed with her.

AR Rahman took the stage at 9:40pm and showered the audience with his melodious voice after a heavy rainfall.

He started his performance with his hit number ‘Jai Ho’. Then, he sang some of his popular songs including ‘Hamma Hamma’, ‘Urvasi’, ‘Mustafa Mustafa’, ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Tere Bina’.

The whole gallery echoed the rhythm and verses of Rahman’s song ‘Muqabala’, when he started singing it. He also enchanted the audience with his magical songs ‘Dil Se Re’ and ‘Kun Faya Kun.’

His performance was followed by another Indian artiste Hariharan. He amazed the whole gallery with his and Rahman’s classic song ‘Tu Hi Re’ from the film ‘Bombay’. He also sang ‘Chandere Chandere’.

AR Rahman also sang live with the recorded part of the late Lata Mangeshkar’s song ‘Lukachupi Bahat Hui’ to pay tribute to the legacy and his only duet with Lata.

Indian artiste Jonita Gandhi covered the popular song titled ‘Agar Tum Sath Ho’ from the film ‘Tamaasha’.

Apart from the song performance, Indian music director and drummer, Sivamani, commonly known by his stage name Drums Sivamani enthraled the audience by performing with AR Rahman in the song ‘Chale Chalo’ from the film ‘Lagaan’ and ‘Muqabala’.

There was also dance performance with every song by AR Rahman.

Bangladeshi anchor Rumana Malik Munmun emceed the concert.