A.R. Rahman’s “Jai Ho: The Journey Home World Tour” concert last weekend at the Oracle Arena clearly broadcast Rahman’s mission: to create music that combines his Indian heritage with inspirations from around the world, including rap, reggae, hip-hop, Latin, and even Michael Jackson.
Rahman is epically well-known in the Indian community. He has composed for Bollywood mega-hit after mega-hit, from Lagaan to Rang de Basanti, Taal to Guru. Even mainstream America can probably hum along with Rahman’s music to Slumdog Millionaire, for which he won two Academy Awards, including an Oscar for best song for “Jai Ho.” Time Magazine dubbed Rahman the “Mozart of Madras” and listed him in “The Time 100: The World’s Most Influential People” in 2009.
