A R Rahman unveils Games theme song

Rahman unveils Games theme song (Lead)  

Gurgaon, Aug 28 (IANS) The Commonwealth Games' theme song, "Jiyo Utho Badho Jeeto", by Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman was unveiled at a glittering function here Saturday.

The song calls upon everyone to participate in the Oct 3-14 mega sporting event. 

"I wrote the first line six months back and kept tweaking it till I finally finished it last night (Friday). It is definitely an honour to compose the official theme song which is in the spirit of the Commonwealth Games," said Rahman, who performed at the launch function.

The theme song was recently cleared by the Group of Ministers headed by Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy. 

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said that the city will hold the best ever Games.

"The Games which have come to India for the first time are going to be the most memorable Commonwealth Games ever held. We are confident that Delhi, with India behind it, will be able to achieve what many people believe may not be possible," she said after the launch of the theme song. 

"I do believe that along with (Organising Committee chairman) Suresh Kalmadi and his team, with support of the Indian government, the very warm and kind blessings of prime minister of India, we will achieve the best ever Games held anywhere in the world," she added. 

The unveiling of the theme song was delayed by a few days after the GoM asked Rahman to tweak the song. 

"When we got the flag we had promised that we will put up a great show and we will live up to the promise. We are using the best of infrastructure in the opening and the closing ceremonies which would depict 5,000 years of Indian culture," said Kalmadi.

"We are working hard and we know we can do it. The Games will be better than the Beijing Olympics," he said. 

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was also present on the occasion.

A.R. Rahman The Commonwealth Games theme song was released today Listen to it online

http://soundcloud.com/arrahman/cwg-theme-song

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Mahi

The Commonwealth Games theme song was released today Listen to it online

The Commonwealth Games theme song was released today Listen to it online

http://soundcloud.com/arrahman/cwg-theme-song
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Mahi

My next dream is to sing for Bollywood Rahman Indian Idol winner

My next dream is to sing for Bollywood, Rahman: 'Indian Idol' winner  

By Radhika Bhirani

New Delhi, Aug 16 (IANS) For Hyderabad boy Sreeram Chandra, this Independence Day couldn't have been more special. He realised his dream of winning music reality show "Indian Idol 5", and can't wait now for his next dream -- of singing for Bollywood and Oscar winning music composer A.R. Rahman -- to come true.

"My next dream is to make it big in Bollywood," Sreeram, who was declared the winner of "Indian Idol 5" Sunday, told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

"I want to sing hit songs, be a well-known playback singer and be a star performer. I want to learn a lot. 'Indian Idol' has given me a concrete base to create a name for myself and I want to improve on it by working with all the music directors, especially A.R. Rahman sir," he added.

Sreeram, an engineer, is not from a musical family. As a struggling singer back in Hyderabad, he used to audition for regional reality shows, sing for small budget films and lend his voice for chorus, jingles and radio advertisements. 

But his consistently melodious performances on "Indian Idol" struck the right chords with judges - Sunidhi Chauhan, Annu Malek and Salim Merchant as well as various Bollywood celebrities and the audience alike. 

He says the feeling of waking up as "Indian Idol 5" was "amazing".

"Every morning before the finale, we used to wake up with the conviction of working hard towards the title. When I woke up today (Monday), it was a different feeling. I wasn't just Sreeram anymore. This show has given me a new identity - of being 'Indian Idol 5'," said the 24-year-old.

Along with this new identity, Sreeram has also won Rs.5 million cash, a one-year contract with Sony BMG, a Tata Winger car, and a golden chance to sing a song in a Yash Raj Films' project.

It couldn't have been bigger and better, he says.

"I feel blessed that I was a part of 'Indian Idol 5' where they are giving me a direct entry into Bollywood with the chance to sing for one of India's biggest production houses - YRF. No previous 'Indian Idol' has got this chance, and I hope this boosts my standing as a singer," he said.

He is also excited about the opportunity of creating his own album and says he would like to sing all kinds of songs because he considers himself a "versatile singer".

For now, he is in a party mood and wants to rush back to his hometown Hyderabad to thank and acknowledge all those who supported him. 

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Mahi

A R Rahman asks media to project positive image of CWG

Rahman asks media to project 'positive image' of CWG  

New Delhi, Aug 16 (IANS) Oscar winner A.R. Rahman, who has composed the theme song of the Commonwealth Games, said Monday that he was pained by the negative publicity for the mega sporting event.

Appealing to the media to present a positive image of the Games, Rahman said: "It is my humble request to you (media) to present a positive image of the Games to the international community."

"Hundreds of people are working day and night for making the Games successful. People across the world are asking if India will be able to hold them successfully… so kindly bring a positive image to the Games," the music maestro told reporters during a function in the capital. 

Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi quoted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Independence Day address in which he said the Oct 3-14 Games would be a "national festival". 

"With 30 days to go for the opening of the Games village, we are confident of a great Games," Kalmadi said.

With the delay in preparations and corruption allegations in the biggest sporting event being organised in India since the 1982 Asiad Games, Manmohan Singh Saturday issued clear instructions that the facilities for the Games be made ready in time and meet international standards. 

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Mahi

Rahman asked to tweak CWG theme song

Rahman asked to tweak CWG theme song  

New Delhi, Aug 16 (IANS) Oscar winner A.R. Rahman is ready with the Commonwealth Games theme song but the Group of Ministers (GoM) on the Games has asked the composer to tweak it before the opening ceremony.

"I presented the theme song before the GoM and it was approved. I have been asked to tweak it and it will be released within next 10 days," Rahman told reporters here at a function organised to launch the theme song.

"I think it won't be good to release the theme song without making the necessary changes," he said when asked about the song. 

The GoM chaired by Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy met for the first time Sunday after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh intervened to take stock of the much-criticised preparations for the Oct 3-14 Games. 

The three-hour long GoM meeting also discussed other details related to the opening ceremony besides giving approval to the theme song composed by Rahman.

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Mahi

रहमान बोले, ओ यारो..ये इंडिया बुला रहा है

रहमान बोले, ओ यारो..ये इंडिया बुला रहा है 
 
नई दिल्ली। आस्कर विजेता संगीतकार ए. आर. रहमान ने नई दिल्ली में अक्टूबर में होने वाले कॉमनवेल्थ गेम्स का थीम सॉन्ग आज लॉन्च किया। राजधानी के अशोका होटल में थीम सॉन्ग के लॉचिंग समारोह के दौरान कॉमनवेल्थ गेम्स की आयोजन समिति के अध्यक्ष सुरेश कलमाडी भी मौजूद थे। रहमान ने कहा कि "मैं इस सॉन्ग को महात्मा गांधी को समर्पित करना चाहता हूं।"

इस मौके पर रहमान ने थीम सॉन्ग की सिर्फ एक लाइन गाकर सुनाई। स्वागतम नाम के थीम सॉन्ग के बोल है- "ओ यारों ये इंडिया बुला रहा है।" उन्होंने कहा कि "कॉमनवेल्थ गेम्स का थीम सॉन्ग तैयार कर लिया गया है, लेकिन पूरे गाने को अभी नहीं सुनाया जा सकता।" थीम सॉन्ग में हिंदी और अंग्रेजी दोनों भाष्ााओं के बोल होंगे। गौरतलब है कि रहमान की धुन पर रविवार को मंत्रियों के समूह (जीओएम) ने मुहर लगा दी थी। 

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Mahi