A.R. Rahman to perform at Mulayam’s birthday bash

If it was a ride on a Victorian-style buggy in Rampur last year, it is A.R. Rahman’s concert this time round. Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh’s birthday celebrations are never short of extravagance.

With the leader turning 76 on November 22, his party has organised a grand bash for him, one that would include elaborate celebrations and cultural programmes in Saifai, the native village of the Yadavs in Etawah district.

The star attraction of the grand event will be a performance by A.R. Rahman and his troupe.

The Academy award-winning composer will perform on the eve of Mr. Singh’s birthday with the message “Clean U.P, Green U.P.”

The ‘Green U.P.’ initiative was recently taken up by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who is himself supervising the preparations for the celebrations. Mr. Rahman will also participate in a sapling plantation drive.

The list of dignitaries at Saifai could include political bigwigs, including Rashtriya Janta Dal chief Lalu Prasad, Janata Dal (U) chief Sharad Yadav, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, and long-time Mulayam aide Amar Singh.

Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan, his wife Jaya Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan and Salman Khan have also been invited.

Last year, Mr. Singh celebrated his 75th birthday by cutting a 75-ft-long cake. The extravagance triggered a major controversy as Opposition parties criticised the SP over the costs of the celebrations.

Saifai was also in the news post-Muzaffarnagar riots for hosting the Saifai Mahotsav even as scores of children died of cold in relief camps in western U.P.

BJP spokesperson Dr. Chandra Mohan questioned the moral right of the SP to host such lavish programmes even as the government declared drought in 50 districts, including Etawah.