Khalifa stadium to host A R Rahman show on March 22

Internationally acclaimed composer, singer, songwriter and producer A R Rahman is due to perform in Doha on March 22, in what is expected “to be the largest music event ever to be held in Qatar”, organisers have said.The event will take place in conjunction with the Qatar-India 2019 Year of Culture.Rahman, along with his troupe of more than 80 performers, will take to the stage at Khalifa International Stadium, the first FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium to be delivered.An audience of more than 30,000 “are expected to flood the stadium in anticipation of some of Rahman’s best-known hits,” according to a statement.The musical festival in Doha is being organised by Katara Studios in collaboration with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy and as part of the Qatar-India 2019 Year of Culture that is intended to promote mutual understanding, recognition and appreciation between the two countries.Rahman, who shot to international fame with the 2009 Hollywood production, Slumdog Millionaire, was already a celebrated musical icon in his home country, India. He is credited for revolutionising the Indian film music industry, thanks to his genius East-West mashup that gained him international recognition.In addition to two Grammy and Oscar awards each, Rahman also boasts of a Bafta, a Golden Globe as well as a slew of awards in  India, including six National Film Awards, 15 Filmfare Awards and 17 Filmfare Awards South. “We are really excited and honoured to be working with the legendary A R Rahman,” said director of music at Katara Studios, Mazen Murad. “His concert is really timely as we look to welcoming a global audience in the lead up to the World Cup. This is a great opportunity to position Qatar as an entertainment hub and we are delighted to be in the forefront of this effort.”Murad said that the concert ticks off many milestones for Qatar. “It will be Rahman’s first performance in Doha, it will be Khalifa Stadium’s first major music event, and the stadium will be equipped with a 90m-wide stage – a world first in terms of the longest stage set-up for a musical performance. This is going to be the largest musical event Doha has ever seen,” he added.Katara Studios, a state-of-the-art production facility in Doha, was established to create and promote the local film and music industry. Their collaboration with Rahman is the first among a long list of projects that will see celebrated artistes perform and work closely with  Katara Studios.Tickets for the concert are available at Q-Tickets.