A.R.Rahman - The Intimate Concert (Review)

In June 1996, my brother Ashwin and I had our "poonal" (thread ceremony) in Madras, India. This was when Shankar's Indian released (music composed by A.R.Rahman). Although I had heard some of his earlier tunes like 'Chinna Chinna Aasai' (Dil Hai Chota Sa) from Roja and 'Kannalane' (Kehna Hi Kya) from Bombay, Indian (Hindustani) attracted me to Indian music. More specifically the songs 'Akada' and 'Telephone' -- but I digress.

Let's fast forward nearly 2 decades later-- yes, June 2015. My brother and I (being the ardent ARR fans we are) booked 4th row seats to the San Jose concert. The nearly $400 tickets were absolutely worth it given we got such a good view of the stage, and mind you we also dropped another $500 or so on the airfare flying out from Atlanta (he last performed here in 2007).

THE CONCERT

So let's start with the + (positives) and then we can do go into the - (negatives).

POSITIVES - HIT THE RIGHT NOTE

• A good mix of old, new and fusion items
• Mayya Mayya was performed really well with a nice background dancer
• Kadhal Rojave / Roja Janeman performed beautiful with instrumentals and female humming
• Nice mix of Tamil/Hindi songs and a few Telugu ones
• Jonita Gandhi is a great performer and great diction on Tamil songs (even though she doesn't speak it)
• Nice time length - and nice flow without pauses/intermission/emceeing
• New interactive hand sensor song ("Thee Thee" Thiruda Thiruda) was very innovative
• Sid Sriram's version of "Ennodu Nee Irandhaal" from I was mindblowing
• Annette Smith's jazz ensemble and cover with ARR from "Jaane Tu Ye Jaane Na" was beyond impressive
• Concert started right on time with few technical glitches
• Nice video background to complement the singers
• Brilliant violin renditions

NEGATIVES - A LITTLE OFF

• Few singers (mainly Jonita Gandhi and Haricharan Seshadri) whereas previous concerts have included an ensemble cast
• Songs like 100 Foot Journey and 127 Hours were purely filler for the singers to have costume changes and for the audience to take restroom breaks (an instrumental would have been better)
• ARR should have probably memorized the lyrics given that he's the composer
• Jiya Jale singer who was flown in was very average, if not a little off key and the arrangement seemed to be a little off as well (possibly playing on top of a track)?
• Perhaps an unplugged section with just piano/vocals would have been nice?

LIST OF SONGS

• Ariziyan
• Chinna Chinna Aasia (Tamil/Hindi)
• Uyire / Tu Hi Re (Tamil/Hindi)
• Dil Se - jugalbandhi with violin
• Munbe Vaa (Tamil/Telugu)
• Saathiya / Pachai Nirame (Tamil/Hindi)
• Naane Varigaraen
• Pookale Satru
• If I Rise - 127 Hours
• Tasalli/Ala Hada
• Nenujukulle
• Jazz improv / Jaane Tu Ye Jaane Naa
• My Mind is a Stranger
• Without You
• Kadhal Rojave (instrumental)
• Warriors in Peace (instrumental)
• Tere Bina
• Ishq Bina/Love is Never Easy
• Thee Thee (interactive sensor demo)
• Maahi Ve
• Jiya Jale
• Innum Konjam (instrumental)
• Yeh Jo Des (instrumental)
• Merasalayiten (instrumental)
• Endrendum Punnagai / Oh Hum Dum (Tamil/Hindi)
• Jiya Re
• Mayya Mayya
• Ennodu Nee Irrindhaal
• Pattaka Guddi
• Naadaan Parindeey
• Chaayya Chayya / Mental Manadhil / Jai Ho (finale medley)

But overall, compared to his previous concert in Atlanta (he didn't make it to Atlanta this time), the San Jose concert was superb! A good mix of songs, innovation and most importantly it didn't feel too long or short-- and it started right on time! And for an added bonus, we got to meet the singers and the legend himself backstage!

Did you attend the concert? What were your thoughts? What songs would you've liked to see? Leave a comment below!