Rahman to sing `Jai Ho` at CWG inaugural show

New Delhi: Music maestro A R Rahman is all set to rock the inaugural ceremony of the Commonwealth Games with his chart burster `Jai Ho` and `Maa Tujhe Salam` numbers.

As a tribute to the Father of the Nation, Rahman will also sing the Mahatma`s favourite hymn `Vaishnava Jan To` for the 60,000-strong audience at the inaugural ceremony of the Games at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Besides, the audio-video presentation of `Yaro India Bula Liya,` the theme song of the Games on 16 large screens, the audience would be treated to the `Chhaiya Chhaiya` dance sequence mounted on a `Human Train` conceived by a creative team involving 1,500 artistes. Human Train is part of a 12-minute `Great Indian Journey` dance sequence showcasing rural and small town India with the popular Hindi song Chhaiya Chhaiya from the film `Dil Se` as a background score. `Rhythm of India` involving 900 drummers followed by `Swagatam` song by Hariharan are the other attractions of the inaugural show. The 45-minute cultural extravaganza conceived by a creative team comprising Shyam Benegal, Prasoon Joshi, Javed Akhtar and Bharat Bala among others is now being finalised with stage rehearsal going on in full scale. "We have worked for 14 months to present a contemporary image of India during the inaugural and closure ceremony," said Bala, the director of the creative team. The theme song of the Games, rendered by Rahman, has been made into a video featuring Sania Nehwal, Milkha Singh, Samresh Jung and other sport personalities. The opening and closing ceremony of the Games is estimated to cost Rs 300 crores involving about 10,000 artistes and state-of-the-art equipment. While Rahman`s `Maa Tujhe Salam` will be the last song of the inaugural event, his composition `Vande Mataram` will be rendered in the concluding ceremony. PTI