After 'Marakkuma Nenjam' fiasco, AR Rahman vows to change India's music scene: 'How we treat people is more important'

Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman delivered a live performance in Chennai on Sunday. The concert titled Marakkuma Nenjam, which seems to enjoy the distinction of being 'India’s highest-sold show' to date, was marred by reports of mismanagement that led to chaotic scenes outside the venue.

In an interview addressing the controversies stemming from the concert, Rahman took responsibility for the organisational mishaps. He acknowledged the need to pay equal attention to event arrangements, recognising that when staging significant events in India, a seamless execution is as vital as curating an enjoyable musical repertoire from his compositions.

ALSO READ: AR Rahman changes X bio amid Chennai concert backlash?

"We did 20 concerts in the US last year, and everything was smooth and trouble free — because we trusted the system there. ‘Marakkuma Nenjam’ is India’s highest-sold show till date, which is great, but it is more important how we treat people than the actual concert itself. And that, I had little control over," Rahman told The Hindu. 

He admitted that he was "terribly disturbed" by the way things panned out. In addition to taking ownership, Rahman promised to transform Chennai into an "arts capital" and work toward developing the necessary infrastructure to accommodate the growing interest in innovative music experiences.

The chaos outside the venue resulted in fans with valid tickets being turned away, leading to traffic congestion and causing great disappointment and frustration among the attendees. Many were accused of organisers selling more tickets than the venue could accommodate. 

ALSO READ: Maamannan composer AR Rahman slams filmmakers exploiting divisions: 'Our films should not divide'

Rahman also took to social media to apologise for the bad experience for the hundreds of fans, who didn't make it into the venue. "Dearest Chennai Makkale, those of you who purchased tickets and weren’t able to enter owing to unfortunate circumstances, please do share a copy of your ticket purchase to arr4chennai@btos.in along with your grievances. Our team will respond asap," he tweeted. 

But, those who made it to the concert seemed to have had a good time enjoying Rahman's musical show. The composer revealed that his team is in the process of collecting all data, suggesting that he will put together another show in Chennai to make up for the Marakkuma Nenjam fiasco.