President Tharman praises Indian music star A.R. Rahman for helping Singapore musicians
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam met award-winning Indian music star A.R. Rahman when Rahman was in Singapore. - THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM/INSTAGRAM
SINGAPORE: President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has praised Indian music star A.R. Rahman for working with Singapore musicians.
In social media posts on Monday (June 2), Tharman uploaded photos of himself meeting the Grammy-, Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning music and film icon popularly known as ARR.
Rahman, 58, was in town on May 10 and 11 for the premiere of Le Musk, a multi-sensory virtual-reality (VR) film he directed that is screening at Golden Village Suntec City until Aug 12.
'Our Indian music and cultural talent, from classical to the most contemporary and edgy, are naturally a minority in the local scene. But they make Singapore's multiculturalism all the more special,' President Tharman wrote.
'ARR has also done our own talent good over the years, by giving them valuable exposure,' he added, listing the home-grown acts who have worked with Rahman – rapper-songwriter duo Lady Kash and Krissy, singer-musician Shabir and rapper Yung Raja.
Rahman's collaborations include Wanna Mash Up?, a song with Lady Kash and Krissy for the 2014 Hindi film Highway.
Tharman added that Singapore was the first place Rahman – who was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu – travelled to outside of India in the 1980s, and how the musician bought his equipment from local music stores Swee Lee and City Music.
'Good to see that both local music stores are still going strong after all these years,' Tharman wrote.
Rahman is a prolific musician, composer and singer whose works span more than 145 films. Incorporating Indian classical with contemporary Western, his music famously transcends Tamil, Hindi and Telugu films, and has made a mark on Hollywood, the West End and Broadway.
He gained global fame when his soundtrack to the Mumbai-set British film Slumdog Millionaire (2008) earned him Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Original Song – for the upbeat number Jai Ho – in 2009.
The crime drama romance, which starred Dev Patel and Freida Pinto, also won Rahman Best Compilation Soundtrack Album and Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 2010 Grammy Awards.
Le Musk, a 37-minute film that marks his directorial debut, uses pioneering camera technologies to present an immersive film that blends VR, haptics, music and fragrance. At GV Suntec City, viewers will wear VR headsets and sit in special egg-shaped chairs that release scents.
Rahman has staged several concerts in Singapore, most recently at the National Stadium on Aug 31. He also performed at Gardens by the Bay in 2014, the Singapore Indoor Stadium in 2005, and Marina Bay Sands in 2011. - The Straits Times/ANN
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
35 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Malaysian actor Zhang Yaodong seen manning seafood stall in Singapore
SINGAPORE: Singapore-based Malaysian actor Zhang Yaodong was seen running a steamed seafood stall at 9007 Kopitiam, a coffee shop in the Tampines industrial area, on June 4. The Straits Times reported that the 47-year-old was observed at the cash register, taking customer orders. A user on Xiaohongshu said that the stall belongs to Zhang, and he was working that day because his employee had resigned. The user noted the former Mediacorp artiste's politeness, affirming Zhang in her post by saying there is "nothing better than correcting one's behaviour after making a mistake." The bachelor's public image suffered a blow in July 2024 when rumours circulated about him fathering children out of wedlock with women of various nationalities. However, in November 2024, Zhang used Instagram to mark a holiday to South Korea with his two daughters, confirming his fatherhood for the first time. In February of this year, Mediacorp's talent management agency, The Celebrity Agency, announced it was no longer representing him and that he had not participated in the filming of any new programmes. Zhang, whose parents were formerly hawkers, is reported to have previously managed a catering business and opened a roast meat stall in a food court. He also ventured into Taiwanese cuisine, selling beef noodles in his hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Jefri Nichol shares how he and Ameera Khan 'met'
KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesian actor Jefri Nichol has recently revealed the origins of his relationship with his girlfriend, social media influencer Ameera Khan. In a video re-posted by a TikTok user, Jefri was seen recounting their story, seemingly during a podcast session. The 26-year-old artiste explained that he first came across Ameera's name in 2021, when she was listed among the "Top 10 Most Beautiful Women in Malaysia" on the X app. "Then I stalked her Instagram and soon we started chatting," he shared. Given the long-distance nature of their early interactions, their connection was maintained primarily through social media and telephone calls. "We only met in 2023," Jefri stated, adding that by January 2024, they were officially a couple.
Hype Malaysia
an hour ago
- Hype Malaysia
(Video) Mandopop Icon Jay Chou Mobbed By Fans While Sightseeing In Japan
It can be hard to travel comfortably when you're as popular as Jay Chou (周杰伦). The Mandopop icon has been travelling around Japan recently, but unfortunately, his trip hasn't been the most peaceful. Jay and his wife, Hannah Quinlivan (昆凌), recently visited Kyoto for work. While the couple were there, they took the opportunity to do some sightseeing. Joining the pair are Jay Chou's staff members and Japanese singer-actor Tomohisa Yamashita (山下 智久), who is a good friend of the Taiwanese singer. Together, the group went around the city, visiting popular tourist spots, including local temples and shrines. Given the popularity of the Mandopop and J-pop icons, a crowd will begin to form wherever the two go. Some fans even started following the stars and mobbing them as they walked down the streets of Kyoto. Unfortunately, the mobbing got so intense that Jay's makeup artist tripped and broke his leg. The 46-year-old singer went on Instagram to share the news and urged fans to maintain a safe distance in public to avoid another accident. According to reports, the makeup artist broke two bones and had to get a cast for his leg. Thankfully, it seemed he's recovering well despite the incident and is even cracking jokes about his fall. Jay also tried to make fun of the situation, jokingly asking fans if they had a photo of his makeup artist tripping. His odd request amused fans, who noted that it highlights their close friendship. Jay also didn't seem too pressed by the fans in Kyoto because he even stopped to take photos of some of them. In some videos, the star also appeared calm despite being surrounded by people. However, the mobbing did get a little crazy, and the crowds even gathered in front of a local restaurant where Jay and Yamashita Tomohisa were dining. Police officers were even called to the scene to maintain order. Many netizens have reacted to the situation, mostly praising Jay for remaining calm amidst the chaos. However, some urged the public not to crowd the star and allow him to enjoy his trip. What are your thoughts on this? Here's a look at the crowd of fans in Kyoto: Sources: Sin Chew Daily, China Press What's your Reaction? +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0
