Double Oscar-winning music composer AR Rahman will perform on August 15 at the United Nations Assembly this year. India’s Ambassador-Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin, tweeted: “Jai Ho to echo UN? AR Rahman to perform at UN in homage to MS Subbulakshmi on India’s 70th Independence Day (sic),” along with a poster bearing images of Rahman and MS Subbulakshmi.
The concert aims to commemorate the birth centenary of the late legendary musician and Bharat Ratna awardee. This year also marks 50 years since Subbulakshmi performed at the General Assembly Hall in 1966.
She was invited to perform by the then UN Secretary General late U Thant and the then Chef de Cabinet late CV Narasimhan, becoming the first artiste to perform at the prestigious venue.
We also hear that Rahman will perform a variety of albums, including a unique musical rendition of Rabindranath Tagore’s Where the Mind is Without Fear.
The Mozart of Madras will be the second Indian to perform at the UN after Subbulakshmi!