Jai Ho! Songs are stars of show

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

A technical hitch at Wembley Arena delayed start time by an hour, but once this high-tech extravaganza got going there was no holding it back. As breathtaking and mesmerising as it was OTT and schmaltzy, Jai Ho — named after the Oscar-winning track on Rahman’s Slumdog Millionaire score — crammed 37 songs into a 160-minute set.

The diminutive Rahman, 44, has written music for more than 600 films, many of them Bollywood epics; his knack for orchestral melodies, along with his fondness for playing the keytar while wearing aviators, is part Lloyd Webber, part Prince. Screams of recognition from a largely Asian crowd greeted the likes of O Saya, a song originally recorded with British Tamil singer M.I.A, and the flute-led instrumental theme to the movie, Bombay.

As dancers back-flipped, aerialists twirled on ropes and a team of singers and rappers delivered everything from pop and hip hop to techno and traditional Indian music — ghazal singer Hariharan sent his voice spiralling heavenwards on Hai Rama — the artist at the centre of it all was a benign and sometimes incidental presence.

For all his sequinned frockcoats Rahman is not a natural showman. "The pedal isn’t working," he said shamefacedly of his piano. "But I’ll manage." Which he did. But the real stars last night were his songs.

Jai Ho: A R Rahman
Wembley Arena
Arena Square, Engineers Way, HA9 0DH