Overview
- Fan-shot videos from the January 23 Etihad Arena show in Abu Dhabi spread widely online, highlighting AR Rahman leading the crowd in Vande Mataram toward the finale.
- Attendees also shared that the four-hour set opened with Jana Gana Mana and included hits across languages, with the audience singing along throughout.
- Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who attended, praised the concert as exhilarating and described the arena as packed, estimating 20,000 people cheering and singing.
- In a recent BBC Asian Network interview, Rahman said a power shift in Bollywood put non-creatives in charge and added it might be a communal thing, which drew criticism.
- Rahman later posted a video stressing his love for India, and supporters including singer Chinmayi, his children, and UAE filmmaker Naya Al Khaja publicly backed him.