Hyderabad prepares for A.R. Rahman's grand 'Wonderment Tour' concert
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
While Mumbai's show was part of the international Wonderment Tour's global premiere, Hyderabad is being designed as a bespoke, standalone stadium concert.
Scheduled for November 8th, 2025, at Ramoji Film City, this marks Rahman's much-anticipated return to Hyderabad after an eight-year hiatus, following his iconic 'Encore Tour' in 2017, which celebrated a quarter-century in music. Now, 'The Wonderment Tour' commemorates three decades of his profound influence on the music industry-serving as a sonic odyssey through Rahman's most iconic homegrown and international film scores, cherished soundtracks and innovative new material.
The tour's global premiere earlier this year captivated an audience of 50,000 in Mumbai, transforming the live concert experience through a fusion of breathtaking visuals, compelling narrative transitions, and a transformative soundscape that seamlessly blends cutting-edge technology with timeless emotional resonance. Building on this momentum, 'The Wonderment Tour' embarks on its next chapter, with upcoming engagements across the United States and Canada, alongside 'The Wonderment Hyderabad | A.R.
Rahman Live'.
The Wonderment Hyderabad | A.R. Rahman Live presented by Hyderabad is a standalone tribute concert crafted exclusively for the city. Personally curated by A.R. Rahman, this concert reflects his longstanding musical connection with Hyderabad and is tailored to its cultural sensibilities, linguistic diversity and emotional resonance. Talking about the event, A.R. Rahman stated, " With Hyderabad, there has always been a reciprocal exchange of musical energy.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
This concert is dedicated to those who still cherish the experience of live music and the profound immersion it offers. With 'The AR Rahman Live in Concert,' our objective is to convey that every note, every rhythm, narrates a story. I aspire to merge tradition with innovation, bridging the past and the future in a grand celebration of music.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy announces ₹1 crore reward for 'Naatu Naatu' singer Rahul Sipligunj
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday announced a cash reward of one crore for popular singer Rahul Sipligunj, who rose to global fame through the Oscar-winning song 'Naatu Naatu' in 'RRR'. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy with singer Rahul Sipligunj.(X) 'RRR' is a 2022 epic period action drama film directed by S. S. Rajamouli, who co-wrote the screenplay with V. Vijayendra Prasad. CM Revanth Reddy has fulfilled his promise to renowned singer Rahul Sipligunj. The government announced a cash reward of one crore rupees to Rahul on the occasion of the Bonalu festival, as per the Telangana CMO. Recognising his self-made success, CM Reddy hailed him as an inspiration for the youth of Telangana. Before the elections, while serving as Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president, Revanth had announced financial assistance of ₹10 lakh to Rahul at a public event and assured that the Congress government would honour him with ₹1 crore. Recently, during the Telangana Gaddar Film Awards, the Chief Minister specifically mentioned Rahul Sipligunj and stated that a government announcement would be made soon. Accordingly, today, on the occasion of the Bonalu festival, the CM announced a reward for Rahul, according to the Telangana CMO. 'Naatu Naatu' was the first Telugu song to be nominated in the 'Original Song' category at the Oscars. It won the award, trumping big names such as Rihanna and Lady Gaga. The song was also released in Hindi as 'Naacho Naacho', in Tamil as 'Naattu Koothu', in Kannada as 'Halli Naatu', and in Malayalam as 'Karinthol'. The lyrical composition by MM Keeravani, high-energy rendition by singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava, unique choreography by Prem Rakshith, and lyrics by Chandrabose are all the elements that make this 'RRR' mass anthem a perfect dance craze. 'RRR' is a fictional story based on the lives of two Telugu freedom fighters, Alluri Seetharama Raju and Komaram Bheem. Ram Charan and Jr. NTR played the lead roles, respectively. Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn, and Shriya Saran also starred in the film.
Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Indian Express
Malayalam cinema's ‘Marilyn Monroe' launched #MeToo against industry bigwig decades before the movement; ‘died by suicide' at 21
From the legendary Silk Smitha and National Award-winning actor Shoba to Bollywood stars Sushant Singh Rajput and Jiah Khan, the list of Indian celebrities who allegedly died by suicide is, unfortunately, long. The price many have paid for the fame and fortune that show business offers is their mental health, and, at times, even their lives. While conspiracy theories and investigation reports continue to speculate on what drove them to take the extreme step, we may never know the real reason. Only they could have revealed what truly pushed them to the edge. Vijayasree, known as the 'Marilyn Monroe of Malayalam', was one such actor who ended her life at the peak of her career. In a short span of just five years, she appeared in over 60 films, winning audiences over with her breathtaking beauty and acting skills, though the latter was largely underutilised as she was typecast as a 'sex symbol' early on. Half a century after her tragic death, the world still doesn't know what drove the young actor to end her life at just 21. Born on January 8, 1953, in Manacaud, Thiruvananthapuram, to Vasu Pillai and Vijayamma, Vijayasree made her acting debut at the age of 13 in the Tamil film Chitthi (1966), starring Padmini and Gemini Ganesan. She soon began receiving offers from Telugu and Kannada cinema as well. As she was slowly carving her space, Vijayasree got her first offer from Malayalam, to play a small role in Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair's Prem Nazir and Sheela-starrer Poojapushpam (1969). It didn't take long for the industry to notice her striking beauty and stellar potential, and she quickly began landing lead roles. In 1970, she starred opposite then-superstar Prem Nazir in Rakthapushpam, directed by 'Hitmaker' Sasikumar. The Nazir–Vijayasree pairing became an instant favourite, opening the floodgates to numerous opportunities. 'She is the most beautiful woman I have ever met,' legendary filmmaker Bharathan once told his associate Jayaraj, who himself later became a renowned director and paid tribute to Vijayasree in his movie Naayika (2011). 'People went to the theatre to see her, and that is something that has not happened before (her time). She was as much a crowd puller as a hero,' Jayaraj told The Hindu in 2016. Despite successful screen pairings like Nazir–Sheela and Nazir–Jayabharathi dominating this era, Vijayasree's chemistry with Prem Nazir became a hit. In most of her Malayalam films, she was paired opposite Nazir, and almost all of them became hits. From Othenente Makan (1970), Marunnattil Oru Malayali (1971), Lankadahanam (1971), Taxi Car (1972), Aadhyathe Katha (1972), Pushpanjali (1972), Postmane Kananilla (1972), Maravil Thirivu Sookshikkuka (1972), Manthrakodi (1972), Aromalunni (1972) and Thaniniram (1973) to Pacha Nottukal (1973), Thenaruvi (1973), Thiruvabharanam (1973), Ponnapuram Kotta (1973), Pavangal Pennungal (1973), Veendum Prabhatham (1973), Padmavyooham (1973), Ankathattu (1973) and Ajnathavasam (1973), all their films earned massive reception. She also appeared alongside other stars like Madhu and Raghavan, achieving immense stardom at a young age. Tragically, she was found dead at her residence in Madras (now Chennai), reportedly after consuming poison. On the day of her death, a producer had visited her to finalise her next film. She was reportedly cheerful not just on that day, but for several months. No one suspected she was struggling with anything grave enough to prompt such an act. After the producer left, Vijayasree went to her bedroom. When she didn't come out for a long time, her mother went in and found her lying on the bed, with blood and froth at her mouth. Though rushed to Madras General Hospital, she was declared dead on arrival. The post-mortem revealed that a large amount of poison had been ingested. A container with the poison was later found in the family's prayer room. Her final hours puzzled many. She had spent time chatting with neighbours' children — she loved kids — in the garden and seemed genuinely happy. Could someone so visibly joyful take their own life all of a sudden? That was the haunting question. According to Manorama Online, Vijayasree appeared mostly happy during that era, particularly because her marriage had been arranged with a doctor settled abroad. For someone eager to leave the dark world of cinema, this was a hopeful turn. But behind her glowing smile, she had been hiding a bleeding heart, deeply scarred by exploitation within the industry. Her beauty had become a commodity. Producers and directors saw her body as a ticket to boost their films' sales. In one movie, a molestation scene involved an actor nearly tearing off her clothes. A still from that very scene was prominently displayed in the film's poster as well. This had caused her significant distress. But the incident that reportedly broke her heart the most occurred during the filming of Ponnapuram Kotta, directed and produced by Kunchacko, then a major figure in Malayalam cinema. In the period drama, there was a scene where Vijayasree was shown bathing in a stream. Since set in a bygone era, she was portrayed wearing only a white, transparent mundu with no undergarments. The makers allegedly ensured the scene was shot in a tasteless way that gratuitously highlighted her body. In the middle of the shoot, her garment accidentally came undone and fell into the water. Instead of helping her save her dignity, the makers took advantage of the opportunity and captured her complete nudity on camera. Upon realising this, Vijayasree sobbed her heart out, begging the director not to use those shots. Although he agreed, she was extremely stressed, knowing well the industry's dark side. No Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) came to her rescue, and the visuals were approved. The film was released with the shots that she had clearly asked not to use. This became a good selling device, and people thronged to the theatres to see Vijayasree's nudity, contributing to Ponnapuram Kotta's massive success. Meanwhile, after it became a controversy, the filmmaker slowly withdrew those shots. But the damage had already been done. The scar that it left on a 20-year-old Vijayasree must not have been small. Although she knew very well how powerful those who wronged her were, Vijayasree was not ready to let things slip by like that. Later that year, she reportedly gave an explosive interview to a major film magazine, detailing the exploitations she faced. She named people and spoke of her trauma in what could be seen as a #MeToo moment decades before the movement actually happened. The interview hit the industry like a storm. The producer responded by filing a defamation case against the magazine, painting himself as the victim. Vijayasree, aware that she couldn't match his power and resources in court, chose not to file a counter-case. Was this the incident that shattered her completely and drove her to suicide? Nobody knows. At the time of her death, she was at the height of her stardom. Her two unfinished films, Youvanam and Vandikkari, were later merged and released as one movie posthumously. Starring Raghavan as the male lead, that film too became a success. But Vijayasree's story didn't end there. Kunchacko's production empire soon collapsed, with his films failing one after another. His family allegedly incurred debts amounting to crores. The once-mighty banner slowly disappeared. Many referred to this downfall as 'Vijayasree's curse'. Some even believed her spirit haunted the studio, according to filmmaker Alleppey Ashraf. Even after his death, the debts lingered, haunting subsequent generations too. Though his successors tried to sell the studio to repay the debts, no one came forward. Even five decades later, the building lay abandoned, consumed by wild vegetation, like a ghost house.
News18
10 hours ago
- News18
Alia Bhatt As Sita, Suriya As Lord Ram: Vishnu Manchu Reveals His Dream Ramayana Cast
Last Updated: Kannappa actor Vishnu Manchu spoke about his dream Ramayana cast, featuring Alia Bhatt as Sita and Suriya as Lord Ram. Ranbir Kapoor and Yash-led Ramayana is one of the most anticipated films of 2026. The film, which will be released in two parts, is helmed by Nitesh Tiwari and bankrolled by Namit Malhotra. Amid buzz around the film, Kannappa actor Vishnu Manchu spoke about his unrealised version of Ramayana, which he now wants to make starring Alia Bhatt as Sita and Suriya as Lord Ram. Vishnu Manchu revealed that he has a fully developed script for Ramayana, which chronicles Ravana's journey from birth to death. When asked about his dream cast for the ambitious project, Vishnu told Nayandeep Rakshit on his YouTube channel, 'The only person who immediately appears in my mind for the role of Lord Rama is actor Suriya," while naming Alia Bhatt as his ideal Sita. Vishnu also shared that he first conceptualised the idea back in 2009 and had even approached Suriya at the time. 'But, because the budgets were not working out for me, it didn't work out. The director of the film was supposed to be the legendary filmmaker Raghavendra Rao. My father was supposed to play the role of Ravana. I have the script and dialogues ready for it, but I don't know if I will ever be able to make it," he added. The Kannappa actor also expressed his excitement about playing Lord Hanuman himself, but revealed that Raghavendra Rao disagreed, envisioning Vishnu as Indrajit instead. Vishnu, however, suggested casting Suriya's brother, actor Karthi, in the role of Indrajit. He further proposed Kalyan Ram (brother of Jr NTR) as Lakshman and veteran actor Sathyaraj as Jatayu. Meanwhile, the Hindi version of Ramayana features a stellar cast comprising the best of bests from the world of Hindi cinema and South. It features: ● Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama ● Yash as Ravana ● Sai Pallavi as Sita ● Sunny Deol as Hanuman ● Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, Rama's loyal brother Supporting them, is an extraordinary cast and crew. Other actors who are a part of the film, reportedly comprises Arun Govil as King Dasharath, Indira Krishnan as Queen Kaushalya, Lara Dutta as Queen Kaikeyi, Anil Kapoor as King Janak, Amitabh Bachchan as Jatayu, Adinath Kothare as Bharat, Sheeba Chaddha as Manthara, Bobby Deol as Kumbhkaran, Vijay Sethupathi as Vibhishan, Vikrant Massey as Meghnad, Rakul Preet Singh as Shurpanakha, Kajal Aggarwal as Queen Mandodari, Mohit Raina as Lord Shiva, Kunal Kapoor as Lord Indra, and Vivek Oberoi as Vidyutjihva. The makers have yet to confirm the supporting cast of the Ramayana. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios along with the 8-time Oscar-winning VFX studio DNEG, in association with Yash's Monster Mind Creations and music by Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman, Ramayana is being filmed for IMAX and will be released worldwide: Part 1 in Diwali 2026 and Part 2 in Diwali 2027. First Published: July 20, 2025, 16:19 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
