- By Mabel Pais
International music icon, India’s musical genius, A.R. Rahman: premier composer, singer-songwriter, music producer, musician, multi-instrumentalist and philanthropist – will join the New Jersey Symphony (https://njsymphony.org) at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) for the A.R. Rahman Symphonic Experience, with performances on Tuesday, November 3, and Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Presented at the Prudential Hall on the Betty Wold Johnson Stage, these two evenings will bring Rahman’s greatest hits to life with the power and richness of a live symphony orchestra. From intimate melodies to sweeping cinematic arrangements, audiences will experience the emotional force of his music on a grand scale.
A.R. Rahman: a visionary who helped redefine contemporary Indian music, blends Eastern classical traditions with electronic sounds, pop and world music. His compositions cross languages, cultures and generations, creating a musical world that is unmistakably his own. With more than 160 film soundtracks and albums spanning multiple languages, Rahman’s extraordinary body of work includes iconic films such as “Roja,” “Bombay,” “Dil Se,” “Taal,” “Lagaan,” “Jodhaa Akbar,” “Ponniyin Selvan,” “Slumdog Millionaire“ and “127 Hours” as he’ll be playing his greatest hits this fall at NJPAC. Experience the evening with the New Jersey Symphony as the orchestra joins Rahman to bring his genre-spanning compositions — ranging from Eastern classical, pop, world music, and rap — to breathtaking new heights.
Rahman’s unprecedented international honors for a music composer of Indian origin includes two Academy Awards, two GRAMMY Awards, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA, four (Indian) National Film Awards, fifteen (Indian) Filmfare Awards and thirteen (Indian) Filmfare Awards South in addition to numerous other awards and nominations.
Described as the “world’s most prominent and prolific film composer” by Time magazine, his works are notable for integrating Eastern classical music with electronic music sounds, world music genres and traditional orchestral arrangements.
Director Baz Luhrmann notes:
“I had come to the music of A. R. Rahman through the emotional and haunting score of “Bombay (Dreams)” and the wit and celebration of “Lagaan.” But the more of AR’s music I encountered the more I was to be amazed at the sheer diversity of styles: from swinging brass bands to triumphant anthems; from joyous pop to West-End musicals. Whatever the style, A. R. Rahman’s music always possesses a profound sense of humanity and spirit, qualities that inspire me the most.“
His extensive body of work for film and the stage earned him the nickname “the Mozart of Madras” and several Tamil commentators and fans have coined the nickname “Isai Puyal” (English: Music Storm). In 2009, Time Magazine placed Rahman in its list of the World’s Most Influential People.
Rahman’s work spans Indian cinema, Hollywood, musical theater and orchestral performance. Recognized with the Government of India’s Padma Bhushan in 2010, he has helped expand the global audience for Indian music while inspiring generations of artists.
Through the A.R. Rahman Foundation, the Sunshine Orchestra and KM Music Conservatory in Chennai, he also supports music education and opportunities for young musicians.
For longtime fans and audiences discovering his music for the first time, the A.R. Rahman Symphonic Experience promises an exhilarating encounter with one of the world’s most distinctive musical voices.
Tickets
Tickets are available at NJPAC.org or at the box office located at 1 Center Street in Newark, New Jersey or by calling 1-888-696-5722.
=====================================================
NILADRI KUMAAR AT NJPAC WILL PAY TRIBUTE TO HIS LONG TIME FRIEND-COLLABORATOR-MENTOR TABLA MAESTRO ZAKIR HUSSAIN
-
By Mabel Pais
Niladri Kumaar, sitar star and musical maverick, redefining the classical Indian sound for the next generation, will perform at the Victoria Theater of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Friday, November 6 at 7:30 PM.
In this concert, he pays tribute to his friend, mentor and frequent collaborator, the late tabla maestro Zakir Hussain. Before Hussain’s passing, the sitar-tabla duo was captured in the wonderful 2017 documentary “The Space Between the Notes.” Kumaar will perform original compositions and revisit some of his favorite collaborations with Hussain. He will be joined by charismatic tabla player Satyajit Talwalkar, jazz/electronic musician Agnelo Fernandes on keys and Sambit Chatterjee.
A fifth generation sitarist, son of guru pandit sitar player Kartick Kumar, Kumaar is hailed as the most enigmatic and trailblazing musician in India across generations. His contribution to the world of sitar, Indian music, classical and contemporary, is regarded by past and present legends as not just innovative, but deeply rooted in the traditional elements known of music.
Under the guidance and numerous years of training from the age of 4, under his father and guru, Niladri has gained an in-depth understanding, technique and unmatchable mastery over the sitar and developed his own distinct style. His music is greatly admired and he has earned a large following of ardent listeners across countries.
Being “sympathetic to pick up” new trends, Niladri decided to push the boundaries and go beyond his comfort zone to invent his own instrument – an electric sitar that he coined as the “Zitar”.
Hailed as one of the serious exponents of Indian classical music on the one hand and reinventing the contemporary modern space on the other, the Zitar culturally redefined the way audiences viewed Indian classical music.
Sound has waves, but his Zitar created ripples. Each endeavor he undertook was molded towards infusing interest and respect for the traditional art forms in the hearts and minds of the younger generation. The Zitar allowed him to express to a much more widespread audience, bridging the “age un-gap” as he calls it – where individuals from all walks of life can tune in and find a place in his music that they can call their own.
By amalgamating an equipoise between essence & trance sense, going beyond just the string, and striking the right chords of harmony between the golden scientific tradition & ever changing modern music, Niladri emerged as one of the finest and undisputed sitar & zitar masters.
Headlining this music metamorphosis and igniting a new route in the musical scene, he gained admiration for being able to stay true to his roots along with being able to create awareness and make his Indian heritage connect with many at a global scale.
Niladri’s vision and message is summarized through his brand – “Stay UPRooted”
His music is inviting, explosive and yet introspective.
With having featured in over 20 international and national albums, bagging numerous & prestigious awards, along with unparalleled performances across the globe, and an immense musical contribution to the Indian film industry, Niladri is one of the generation’s brightest stars, with an illustrious and inspiring path for many.
Extracting the essence, relishing the purity & transforming with a zing, is what the panache performer has achieved and is much celebrated for.
Tickets
For tickets to experience Niladri Kumaar and his musical team, visit NJPAC.org or the box office located at 1 Center Street in Newark, New Jersey or call 1-888-696-5722.
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
Learn more at https://njpac.org
Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Education, Spirituality, Health and Wellness, Business, and Cuisine.
Be the first to comment