The galleries were getting filled even before four p.m, hours before the function, to witness one of the best of the shows of the nation. Even with a little over priced ticket rates, the natives of Calicut thus once again proved beyond any doubts that they are the best of the hosts, be it for music of Football.

A.R. Rahman made a dramatic entry to the concert stage just before eight, singing “O Saya” his Oscar nominated song, to kick off his world tour following two Oscars. In his soft voice he also thanked the support of his fans and expressed this happiness for being in the state where he was longing to perform for the last 15 years.

It was perhaps an experience of a lifetime for over 40,000-music lovers as Oscar winning music maestro A R Rahman launched his worldwide ‘Jai Ho’ tour here, holding them enthralled with a range of popular hits from Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam movies.

It was a musical extravaganza this Kerala town has never seen before as music lovers from across the world thronged the corporation stadium last night to see their idol perform for the first time after winning a double Oscar for his score in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.

Such was the response of the crowd that Rahman himself acknowledged at the end of the show that he would be delighted to return to Kozhikode once more.The show is the first of the 39 such live shows to be conducted by the maestro all over the world during the next five years.

The show was enlivened by the participation of noted playback singers Hariharan, K S Chithra, Benny Dayal, Rashid Ali, Javed Ali, Mohammad Aslam and Sayanora who sang 30 popular songs from Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam movies. But the song that had the audience on their feet was undoubtedly the Oscar winning ‘Jai Ho’.

The proceeds of the world tour would be spent for the welfare of HIV-positive children. Though his itinerary for the world tour is yet be finalized, sources said Rahman would perform live in the Gulf, the US, Canada and East Asia besides a number of north Indian cities during the next five years.

Rahman, whose father R K Shekhar spent most of his career setting scores for Malayalam films, was here for the first time for a live concert. “I have wanted to come here for the past 15 years,” he told the cheering audience in between the songs – in English, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam. “I would be delighted to return to Kozhikode once more.”

Malayali singers Sayanora joined Rahman to sing Athiradee, a popular number from the Rajani hit Sivaji. Rahman also led the chorus for the Malayalam song Padakali that he scored for the Malayalam movie Yodha in 1992.

The stage set up for the show was billed as one of the largest ever built in Kerala, with an 80,000-watt sound system and a hydraulic system to raise a section of the stage.

Rahman said Sukhwinder Singh, the original singer of the award winning song Jai Ho, who was absent at the concert here, will be part of the shows in northern India. “The way we have figured out this concert is with completely new talent, so Sukhwinder will be part of northern India concerts. From southern India, we have a selection of extraordinary talent,” Rahman said.

JAI HO CONCERT CALICUT | TRACK LISTING

1. Opening Act (DJ Medley) – Sayonara
2. Mausam and Escape – Asad on Sitar; Sanjeev, Raashid and Keith on Guitars
3. O Saya – A R Rahman, Chorus
4. Athiradi – A R Rahman, Sayonara
5. Padagali Chandi – George Peter, Benny Dayal
6. Tu Muskura – Sadhana Sargam (Bit)
7. Roja Janeman – Sadhana Sargam, Hariharan
8. Masakali – Raja Hassan
9. Jiya se Jiya – A R Rahman
10. Style – Blaaze
11. Liquid Dance – Tracked
12. Guzarish – Javed Ali
13. Netru Illatha – Chitra
14. Malargale – Chitra, Hariharan
15. Kabhi Kabhi Aditi – Raashid
16. Rehna Tu – ARR, Chorus
17. Taal Se Taal ( western ) – Tracked
18. Ringa Ringa – Neeti Mohan, Sayonara
19. Kala bandar – Benny, Blaaze (Medley)
20. Gangsta Blues – Blaaze, Tanvi (Medley)
21. New – Blaaze, Benny, Chorus (Medley)
22. Azeem O Shaan – A R Rahman (Medley)
23. Rukumani – Chorus (Medley)
24. Veera Pandi – A R Rahman, Chorus (Medley)
25. Latika’s theme/Dreams on Fire – Suzanne
26. Khwaja mere Khwaja – A R Rahman, Javed Ali, Aslam, Raja Hassan
27. Arziyan – A R Rahman, Javed Ali, Aslam, Raja Hassan
28. Manasu Manasinte – Chitra composed by RK Shekar
29. Kannalane – Chitra
30. Jiya Jale – Chitra
31. Aye hairaten – Sadhana Sargam, Hariharan
32. Vaaji Vaaji – Hari, Sadhana
33. Mustafa – A R Rahman
34. Dhaka laga bukka – A R Rahman (Bit)
35. Pappu Cant Dance – Benny, Chorus
36. Aye Bachu – Suzanne
37. Urvasi – AR Rahman
38. Taxi Taxi – Benny, Blaaze, Chorus
39. Humma – A R Rahman
40. Jai Ho – A R Rahman, Tanvi, Chorus
41. Vandemataram – A R Rahman, All artistes