HE CAME, HE SANG AND HE CONQUERED…HOW RAHAT’S CONTROVERSIAL CONCERT BROKE ALL RECORDS!

By Aisha Amjad

On September 28, 2019 Sydneysiders were treated at Sydney Olympic Park, Quay Centre to a dazzling display of audio visual brilliance through pyrotechnical perfection, electrical energy and a sensational stage set up. The arena resounded with Rahat’s soul soothing sufiyana songs, classical qawwali’s, and mesmerising music. The full house were brought to their feet when he belted out his most popular Bollywood hits. In fact by popular demand, he sang ‘Rashke Kamar’ twice and still the audience couldn’t get enough! This is the power of music, the real language of love – bringing people together from all backgrounds, races, religions, cultures and communities. Music is its own religion, to be worshipped as an art form, a way of uniting rather than dividing. This is what we all witnessed that night and it was a stark statement in the face of others who use political issues to create controversy especially around cultural performances.

I had the pleasure and privilege to have an exclusive candid chat with the star of Cinestar Events, Yogesh Sharma, and what really went on behind the scenes.

Martin Luther King infamously said “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

This is what I thought of as I sat down for more than three hours with the man behind the success of the sold-out Rahat Show. Despite the concert being marred with controversy and close to being cancelled… this magnificent man spoke up and stood with the artist who was being globally attacked because he is a Pakistani Muslim with calls for his world tour to be boycotted.

A few days before the concert, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) demanded Rahat’s concert promoters, to cancel his shows in U.S, UK and Canada, which were scheduled after the Australian tour. Yogesh was sent the same threat “In case if you don’t cancel the shows and go against the sentiments of Indians, no Indian artist/singer/dancer/anchor/performer and promoter would ever work with you anywhere in the entire world”.

“Only God could stop me!”, says Yogesh as I asked him how he handled the situation.

“I was getting threats, trolled on social media. My partners & team were worried about fate of our tour.  But once I made up my mind that I would stick by my artist, the audience who have already bought the tickets & the sponsors who had invested money on our trust, through thick or thin, and that I would uphold my promise in delivering the best concert despite the controversies, then everything else paled in comparison.

With that bold move, and defying all the odds, the concert became an unprecedented success story in itself: all seats were sold which broke all records for the highest attendance of any show in Sydney. Not only this but Yogesh’s courageous decision to go ahead with full force led all of Rahat’s other tour promoters and organisers around the world to continue with their concerts and earnt him huge admiration and respect from Rahat, Bollywood music lovers from all the communities worldwide. Speaking of a success story, Yogesh’s whole experience throughout this event is one in itself, and which I wanted to highlight as an inspiration to others.

THE JOURNEY

“Adversity is the mother of all progress” – Mahatma Gandhi

As Yogesh begins- “Behind every one of my successful shows is one percent inspiration, and ninety nine per cent perspiration… and with this one, I sweated the whole way through, for different reasons! It was an experience like no other, and one which also taught me a lot. No one realises how much time and effort goes into organising such huge live shows, no one knows what really goes on behind the scenes. It takes months of dedication and determination, and many sleepless nights, and with this particular concert, the pressure/burden I felt was out of this world, the amount of stress i went through no one knew, because I never let my guard down. It is only now when we reflect on the success of the concert do I know how far I have really come when we embarked on the journey to bring Rahat here.”

Yogesh has been in the entertainment industry for more than two decades. He tells me that he had a recording studio in Mumbai for eight years, and that he knows his music and what people want which is how he developed his successful formula for recognising artists and bringing the right people to Australia at the right time.

That is why after Rahat’s concert in Dubai in December last year, Yogesh decided he wanted to bring him here as part of his ‘Me, Myself and I’ global tour. He personally went to Dubai and what was meant to be a five minute meeting with Rahat turned into much longer one.

Once I decided that, everything else fell into place. It was the most successful concert and personally rewarding one. Although I had some disturbing, disappointing moments and hurtful experiences during the journey from people who have previously been well-wishers, it also taught me a lot about the good that comes your way when you believe in something bigger than yourself.”

When Yogesh shared all of this with me, I couldn’t help but get emotional and a few of Rahat’s Rashke Qamar came into mind: …..

“Teer Aisa Laga, Dard Aisa Jaga

Choth Dil Pe Wo Khayi Maza Aaagaya!”

THE DESTINATION

“Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.”- Bill Bradley

After Yogesh described all his catastrophic challenges and huge hurdles, I asked him how he managed to pull through and put on the biggest event Sydney has ever seen.

My partners & Sponsors became my backbone. There are some people who I have been affiliated with for more than ten years… even marriages don’t last that long! Yet overnight they took that relationship to a whole other level, from friends to family to dil, jaan, zubaan aur khoon ka rishta.

Arun and Susmita Bose from Kashi Restaurant told me to take a back seat and not stress. They will face it first if any issue comes up!!

Ritchie Perera, who has been a constant source of strength since we joined hands, worked on uplifting the concert.

Minu and Rajesh Sharma from Indus Age, stood by my side, making it sure nothing disturbs me in remaining focussed.

Ajay Singh, a dear friend and our lawyer from Redline Legal, confronted the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE ) on legal matters.

I am so indebted to them all, and the way they stood by me for the right cause to spread love, peace & harmony through art & music.

I can verify what Yogesh said about his partners, Castle Group, Indus Age and Junoon Showbiz, the Presenter Kashi Restaurant, Sharma’s Kitchen, Alaxia Homes Price Beat Travel & others all affiliated with Yogesh because I too have had the privilege of working with them from when Yogesh asked me to MC the sold out Adnan Sami concert and media conference, to other Bollywood events. They are professional people who value personal relationships with the utmost integrity, loyalty and decency – very rare traits to find these days.

First and foremost, if we live in this country, we all part of this brilliant beautiful multicultural nation. It is all about respect, not religion. Mutual respect despite our differences, and finding comfort in our similarities and shared values.

Music is timeless and borderless. It transcends all races and religions. That’s why being adamant to bring this concert to Sydney took a whole new other level. For me it wasn’t just about my business or profession, but passion and personal relationships.

In terms of Audience it was sold out across Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, and the diversity was phenomenal despite the controversy. More than 50% percent were Indian, and that shows how we can appreciate artists for their work not where they come from. In terms of the Artist, people lined up to see him and they loved his mesmerising music, people were on their feet and danced to the rhythms of tunes transcending race and religion. In terms of Ambience, my team and I were showered with compliments for creating an atmosphere of hope, harmony and humanity and delivering a night of mesmerising, magical musical experiences despite the doom and gloom others tried to create.”

Yogesh showed not only how the journey is more important than the destination, but also how important it is to take the right people with you!

I just wanted to share something from one of Yogesh’s facebook posts after the concert which really highlights the above:

“When art speaks, the world stops to listen!! The phenomenal success of Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s ‘ME, MYSELF & I’ Australia Tour 2019, will always be evidence that hate and separation will not succeed in limiting the message of joy, peace, & harmony, spread by the art of music throughout Australia, and the world at large. It is a testimony to the fact that music and its artists bring love, peace, and togetherness among all communities. The sold-out Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane audience has proved that we are all united in our admiration and peaceful enjoyment of Art, Music & Culture together!!