AR Rahman Concert Chaos:
AR Rahman’s concert in Chennai on September 10 turned into a chaotic and distressing event. Some of them started shedding light on the pressing need for world-class infrastructure in the city. Allegations of overselling tickets, overcrowding, and mismanagement have surfaced, prompting an investigation by the police.
The Marakumma Nenjam Concert
AR Rahman’s much-anticipated concert, titled “Marakumma Nenjam,” took place at Adityaram Palace City in Chennai on September 10. However, the event was marred by several issues, leading to discontent among the audience.
AR Rahman interview on his ‘Marakkuma Nenjam’ concert: I’m terribly disturbed and accountable for what happened – The Hindu https://t.co/Xi8QBDXLPs
— A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) September 11, 2023
“It was a tsunami of people and love that we were unable to handle,” Rahman told The Hindu after the event turned into utter chaos. He said as a composer, he thought his only job was to give a terrific show and he thought the rest would be taken care of.”
Overcrowding and Overselling Tickets
Overcrowding was one of the major reasons for the chaos. The venue could host 20,000 to 25,000 people but 50,000 people arrived with valid tickets. As a result, they did not get any space to enter the venue. AR Rahman said in the interview that:
“Right now, we are just terribly disturbed. Safety was the primary issue, especially because there were women and kids. I don’t want to point fingers at anyone, but we have to realize that the city is expanding, and the passion to consume music and art is also expanding,”
VIP tickets were sold at exorbitant prices, reaching ₹50,000, but attendees soon realized that there was no designated VIP section at the venue, raising concerns of mismanagement and dissatisfaction among high-paying ticket holders.
Misconduct Allegations
While some women in the crown also alleged molestation during the event. However, there are no formal complaints received by the police.
AR Rahman took responsibility and responded to the chaos. He also pledged to refund the ticket money to the ones who could not make it. Later, he shared his thoughts on Twitter and Instagram:
“Some people call me G.O.A.T …………let me be the sacrificial goat this time for all of us to wake up ..let Chennai’s live art flourish with a world-class infrastructure, increase in tourism, efficient crowd management, traffic management, refining audiences to follow rules ..creating a safe and surreal experience for children and women ..Triggering a cultural renaissance at Chennai celebrating our deserving, illuminated local and international talent,”
ACTC Events also issued an apology on social media. They acknowledged those who could not attend and took responsibility for the issues.
Further Actions
Following the chaos, Tamil Nadu’s Director General of Police ordered a detailed inquiry into the mishap. As a result of the inquiry, Deepa Sathyan, IPS, Pallikaranai Law and Order, was placed under compulsory wait due to her failure to manage the crowd during the event.
The turmoil at AR Rahman’s concert in Chennai underscores the urgent need for improved infrastructure and crowd management in the city. It serves as a wake-up call for authorities to address these challenges and create a safer and more enjoyable environment for cultural events and performances.
