For the first time ever, Double Oscar Winner AR Rahman will be performing live in the city of Pune on Sunday, May, 31, 2009. This concert is part of AR Rahman's ‘Jai Ho’ World Tour with over 70 artists and dancers which includes India's best singers such as Hariharan, Sadhanaji,BLAAZE, Benny Dayal, Rashid Ali amongst others.

The concert will feature all of AR Rahman’s latest super hits and is designed in a manner which appeals to one and all.

The concert will also AR Rahman's first concert in a major metropolis after the Oscars. The Pune concert will be hosted at the sprawling Balewadi Stadium complex which recently hosted the Youth Commonwealth Games.

To announce his arrival in the great city of Pune, and to intimate the public and press about the concert, AR Rahman was in Pune yesterday.
AR Rahman hoisted the 'Jai Ho' flag for the first time amidst a large gathering and spoke about this new world tour and the Pune concert in particular. Rahman said, “I am delighted to perform in Pune and look forward for the concert. Pune is the home to Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar and Bharat Ratna Bhimsen Joshi and I am proud to be performing in this great city.”

Fans of Rahman all over the city were present to welcome him with fanfare. A touched Rahman added, “It is the support of all you people and the blessings of God that gives me the energy to go further.”

The said concert is a charity event whose proceeds will go to the Lata Mangeshkar Medical Foundation and the Shrikeshtra Alandi-Dehu Vikas Parisar Samitee.

On behalf of the Lata Mangeshkar Medical Foundation, Pt.Hridyanath Mangeshkar was present. “The Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital is a charitable Hospital started by Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar, and run by the Lata Mangeshkar Medical Foundation. This year, the work for a second charitable hospital building, by the same name is also slated to begin, post the monsoon season. It is gratifying that Rahman’s initiative will of aid to the mission,” he expressed.
Dr. Vishwanath Karad of the Shrikeshtra Alandi-Dehu Vikas Parisar Samitee said, “The people of Pune have music in their genes. And AR Rahman is the pride of India. For the last 18 years of his career AR Rahman has not visited Pune. It will be our privilege to welcome AR Rahman in this great city and host this wonderful concert that will make him feel to come back again and again to this city of Pune.”

Deepak Gattani of Rapport Global Productions, who is conceptualizing and directing the show informed, “The show has been conceptualized in a completely different manner and it is a matter of pride for Rahman to perform in the vibrant city of Pune. The show will have latest technologies in lighting and pyrotechnics and it will be an audio-visual spectacle. It will a moment to cherish.”

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