Rahman takes Bollywood to Hollywood

"The American audience was completely blown away by the show. They had never seen anything like it. Many Americans came dressed in Indian outfits and danced enthusiastically. People were saying 'move over Britney Spears and J-Lo, Bollywood rocks'," said Sheeraz Hasan.

Hasan attended the concert Sunday with his friends from Warner Bros, Fox and Universal Studios and said they were totally bowled over.

There were more American fans (70 percent) than Asians (30 percent) to hear the music maestro at the show titled "Bollywood Night with A.R. Rahman", organised by the KCRW World Festival at Hollywood Bowl on Sunday here, said a press release.

Tom Schnabel, who is the programme director of World Music, hosted the show.

Rahman opened the show by telling the audience: "When I left Chennai for London several years ago to work on the musical 'Bombay Dreams', everyone congratulated me for going to Hollywood. I tried to explain that I was going to London, not Hollywood, but they didn't understand. So those people who misinterpreted London for Hollywood, would be very happy to see me here today."

Several Indian artistes have performed here in the past, but this was Hollywood Bowl's first night completely dedicated to the music and culture of India.

The Rahman extravaganza with its arsenal of instruments, synthesisers, guitars, dholaks, keyboards and inspired singing transcended musical boundaries.

Other artistes like Sukhwinder Singh, Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam, Madhushree, Musafir and Anisha Nagarajan performed along with Rahman.

The most popular song of the evening was "Chaiyya chaiyya" performed by Sukhvinder Singh.

"Popular entertainers, including Cher, Frank Sinatra, the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Judy Garland and Jimi Hendrix, have all performed at the Hollywood Bowl in the past, and it was truly a historic night as Bollywood came to Hollywood in great style," said Hasan.