Rahman concert aims to heal Aust-Indian relations

Indian musician AR Rahman hopes his free Sydney concert on Saturday will build bridges between Australia and India.

The Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire composer says he never considered cancelling his trip Down Under in the wake of recent violence against Indian students in Melbourne.

"No. I felt the urge even more to do that [perform] because of all the stuff [that has been happening]. I thought it was very important to do that," he told the ABC.
"I want to have a great concert for people to enjoy, and also to spread the message of togetherness and peace; build a bridge for people who are trying to break it."

Rahman also rejected widely reported accusations in India that the killing of one student and attacks on others were racist, instead blaming the attacks on drugs.
"I think the media should be responsible and not attribute them to racist killings," he said.

He advised young Indians to avoid walking at night in areas frequented by drug addicts and alcoholics.
"Because that's the main reason for the killing. It doesn't matter what race they are, they just want to kill because they're not in their own senses."

The Australian and NSW governments have seized on Rahman's visit as a way of mending relations between the two countries.
Welcoming Rahman at today's news conference, Acting NSW Premier Carmel Tebbutt said Saturday's concert at Parramatta Park is an opportunity for Sydneysiders to get a taste of Bollywood while acknowledging "the amazing contribution Indians have made to our city and country".

"We're very much committed to community harmony. We're very much committed to continuing strengthening our relationship with India," she said.
"We recognise that music and creative activities is a way to strengthen our cultural bonds."

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have paid for a group of Indian journalists to visit Australia to coincide with the concert.
Requests to interview the journalists have been denied by department officials, who said they will talk at the end of the visit.

Individual Indian journalists also declined to be interviewed because they said they would need the permission of their news organisations.

More than 100,000 people are expected to attend Saturday's concert, where Rahman and a troupe of 40 musicians and dancers will perform music he has written over the past 18 years, including his international hit Jai Ho!