AR Rehman to lead Indian cultural event in Jeddah

JEDDAH: The India Forum, functioning under the patronage of Jeddah Indian Consulate General, would be organizing a socio-cultural musical gala evening. Oscar-winning Indian musician AR Rahman has agreed to be the chief guest of this event, the organizers said. The event which is being organized so as to become one of the prestigious events organized by the Indian community in Jeddah, not only for the organizers but for the Indian community as a whole, would take place in the middle or end of January. The International Indian School's boys' auditorium with a capacity for more than 2000 seats has been reserved for the event. At the same time, more than three thousand spectators can watch the event using the closed circuit TV installed outside the auditorium for this purpose. The date of the event would be announced shortly. According to the organizers, leading musicians and singers from India would also perform in this grand cultural event. Master Azmat Hussain (winner of Sa Re Ga Ma Little Champs), Sugandha Mishra (TV artist, singer & comedian), NC Karunya (Indian Idol 2 runner up and recipient of Filmfare award (south)), Rehman (Comedy Circus), and an orchestra team from Mumbai are expected to perform in the event. The organizers also said that while the entire expenditure for organizing the cultural event would be generated from leading business establishments in the city as sponsors, the the remaining balance of the collection will go into the Community Welfare Fund of the India Forum for its welfare and philanthropic activities. India Forum Jeddah is a nonprofit self-financing social organization under the aegis of the Consulate General of India - Jeddah, initiated in 1982. Its objectives include the organizing of cultural activities to strengthen, organize and support any activity that aims at the welfare of the Indian expatriate community in its territory. Akbar Ponani 10 Dec 2011