Chennai, September 11, 2023 – Renowned music maestro AR Rahman’s recent concert in Chennai, titled ‘Marakuma Nenjam,’ left a bitter taste in the mouths of several fans as they endured overcrowding, stampede-like situations, and a litany of organizational mishaps. What was supposed to be a musical extravaganza turned into a traumatic experience for many, prompting an outpouring of frustration on social media.
As fans flocked to the Adityaram Palace in Chennai’s Paniyur on Sunday, excitement turned to disappointment and dismay. Numerous concert-goers took to social media to share videos and accounts of their bizarre and harrowing experiences at the AR Rahman concert. They voiced their grievances, primarily related to overcrowding and mismanagement by the event organizers, ACTC Events.
AR Rahman Concert Marred by Chaos, Stampedes, Harassment
Some fans claimed they were denied entry despite having valid tickets, while others described scenes of chaos, stampedes, and harassment. One concert attendee lamented, “It’s overcrowded, a stampede-like situation. No regulation at all.” Another expressed frustration, saying, “We had paid five thousand for a ticket. But it was free for all, anybody could sit anywhere. They are answerable.”
A disgruntled family stated, “There is no parking space as they had claimed. We parked our cars and walked 2 KM.” Additionally, fans in the VIP section, who had purchased tickets at high prices, were disappointed to find no security, no stage view, and an absence of entry demarcations.
The lack of proper parking facilities was another major concern raised by attendees, many of whom had traveled for hours to reach the event venue. Complaints about low volume, making the performance barely audible for those away from the stage, led to demands for refunds.
One fan described the event as “very badly organized” and a “waste of money and energy.” Reports of fights, poor sound quality, panic attacks, and anxiety due to overcrowding were also shared by attendees.
In response to the outcry, AR Rahman reached out to fans, asking those who couldn’t enter the venue on Sunday to mail their tickets and grievances to his team for a response. Rahman’s gesture followed an apology from the event organizers, ACTC Events, for the overcrowding.
Taking to Instagram, AR Rahman called for improvements in crowd management, traffic control, and overall event infrastructure. He wrote, “Let Chennai’s live art flourish with world-class infrastructure, efficient crowd management, traffic management, refining audiences to follow rules… creating a safe and surreal experience for children and women.”
AR Rahman, known for his Oscar-winning compositions in films such as ‘Ponniyin Selvan,’ ‘Rangeela,’ ‘Bombay,’ ‘Taal,’ ‘Rockstar,’ and ‘Slumdog Millionaire,’ has a host of exciting projects on the horizon, including ‘Ayalaan,’ ‘Maamannan Maidaan,’ ‘Pippa,’ ‘Aadujeevitham,’ ‘Laal Salaam,’ and a collaboration with Kamal Haasan in Mani Ratnam’s next venture.