Skip to content
 
Search

Latest Stories

Neeti Mohan on performing with the mozart of Madras

Sarwar Alam
By Sarwar AlamJun 29, 2017
Sarwar Alam
See Full Bio

By Asjad Nazir

GLOBALLY renowned musician and singer AR Rahman will celebrate 25 years in music by delivering a grand concert at SSE Arena Wembley in London on Saturday July 8.

The multi-award winning maestro will be joined on stage at the Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow concert by a host of world-class singers including his secret weapon, Neeti Mohan, who has delivered a number of hit Bollywood songs and has an explosive presence on stage. I caught up with Neeti to talk about music, the London show and working with AR Rahman.

How does working with AR Rahman compare with other musicians?

Well, I always say that it’s more than a dream come true for me to be able to work with AR Rahman because since my childhood I have always been such a fan and have always loved his music. I’ve always heard all kinds of music because of him and he is the reason I got so passionate about it that I just wanted to be a part of it. I think it’s not fair to compare anybody with anyone and obviously with AR Rahman. The whole world knows he is an accomplished class-apart composer and great human being. Somebody who has won an Oscar and Grammy Award, you would not want to compare him with anyone. He is just incredible and it’s such an honour to work with him every time.

What is it like being on stage with him?

Being on stage with him is such a unique experience each time. It’s been seven to eight years that I’ve been a part of his live concerts and every time he wants to do something new. He wants to bring the latest technology; be it in the music, visuals, graphics or how the concert feels and I think that’s something that very few people do. I’ve not seen many people who want to achieve that and its something that is incredible about him.

How do you feel about the London concert? 

I’m so excited to be a part of the London concert, which is happening on July 8 at The SSE Arena Wembley, because this is a one of its kind show, where we are celebrating 25 years of AR Rahman brilliant music. We will all be celebrating his music, which was yesterday, today and tomorrow. So this concert is extremely special.

What can we expect from the live show?

Like I mentioned earlier, this concert is about his music from yesterday, today and tomorrow. So there is music for everybody – from someone who admired his music in the 1990s, then the 2000s and to this day. We are singing some Tamil songs as well. There are going to be lots of Hindi songs, some medleys, some great mash-ups and there are new versions of songs as well. Visually it is going to be a treat.

Which song do you most enjoy performing?

I love performing Jiya Re because it was the first song I recorded with AR Rahman and to

be able to sing it live with him on stage is amazing. This time I’m going to be doing something spectacular on that song. So, it’s very close to my heart and very special.

How does being on stage compare to being in the studio?

I think being on stage and being inside a studio recording are two different departments and unique experiences. In the studio you’re designing your vocals, shaping a song, discussing it and are in a creative process trying to reach the right creative approach. Whereas on a live stage, you just upgrade the same song for the live audience. So both are different and equally enjoyable.

Where does your stage confidence come from?

Confidence comes when you’re performing good music and when you’re a part of great team, like with AR Rahman. And its also something that I’ve always loved doing –music, being inside a studio or on stage, it’s what I love.

Why should we come to the concert?

I think if you’re a fan of good music, you would always want to be part of a concert that is celebrating 25 years of AR Rahman’s music. That is about melodies, about bringing the world music and bringing Indian music to the world. So I don’t think you would want to miss an opportunity to experience the concert of an Oscar and a Grammy winner who is such a legend.

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, presented by Hamsini Entertainment UK and HueBox Entertainment India, is at SSE Arena, Wembley in London on July 8.

Go to www.ssearena.co.uk/events/detail/ar-rahman for more information

ar rahmanneeti mohan

Related News

Katy Perry seen in black bikini on Capri yacht after Orlando Bloom split
Entertainment

Katy Perry seen in black bikini on Capri yacht after Orlando Bloom split

5 secret beaches
Travel

5 secret beaches in the UK that feel like the tropics

The Beckham family
Entertainment

Brooklyn Beckham’s absence looms over Harper’s birthday as family rift deepens

More For You

Ping Pong restaurant chain shuts all UK branches

The chain had also gained a following for its themed brunches

iStock

Ping Pong restaurant chain shuts all UK branches after 20 years

Key points

  • Chinese dim sum restaurant Ping Pong has closed all its UK locations
  • The chain made the announcement via social media
  • Founded in 2005, the brand thanked customers and staff for their support
  • Loyal diners shared memories and disappointment in the comments

All branches are permanently closed

Chinese restaurant chain Ping Pong has permanently closed all its branches in the UK, the company confirmed in a social media announcement.

Founded in 2005 by restaurateur Kurt Zdesar, the dim sum chain had become popular for its stylish interiors, creative menus, and Asian-inspired cocktails. The company did not provide prior notice of the closure but said the decision marked the end of an “unforgettable” 20-year journey.

Keep ReadingShow less
New Covid strain

Experts have raised concerns about the immune-evasive nature of the Stratus strain

iStock

New Covid strain Stratus spreads in UK with unusual hoarse voice symptom

Key points

  • A new Covid strain known as Stratus is spreading across the UK
  • The variant is marked by a distinctive symptom: a hoarse or raspy voice
  • Sub-variants XFG and XFG.3 now account for 30% of cases in England
  • Experts say there is no evidence of more severe disease
  • Lower immunity levels may make more people vulnerable to infection

Covid variant Stratus on the rise in the UK

A new strain of Covid-19, known as Stratus, is spreading across the UK and drawing attention for its unusual symptom — a hoarse or raspy voice. According to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Stratus and its two sub-variants, XFG and XFG.3, are responsible for around 30 per cent of Covid cases in England.

Of the two, XFG.3 is currently the more dominant. The UKHSA confirmed that monitoring of all circulating Covid-19 variants is ongoing as part of regular surveillance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Human brain continues forming neurons

Neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons form in the brain

iStock

Human brain continues forming neurons well into old age, study finds

Key points

  • New neurons continue forming in the brain’s hippocampus into old age
  • Study confirms presence of neural progenitor cells in adults
  • DNA carbon dating and single-nucleus RNA sequencing were used
  • Research shows variation in neuron production between individuals
  • Findings could aid treatments for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders

Human brain shows ongoing neuron formation into older age

A new study has confirmed that the human brain continues to produce new nerve cells well into late adulthood, challenging previous assumptions about age-related decline in neurogenesis. The findings, published in the journal Science, provide fresh insight into how adaptable the brain remains over a lifetime.

Neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons form in the brain, is known to occur in the hippocampus — a region involved in memory. While previous research has suggested that this process continues throughout life, there has been limited concrete evidence of the presence of neural progenitor cells in the adult brain.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kent County Show 2025

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who grew up in Brenchley

Getty Images

Kent County Show opens with royal visit from Duchess of Edinburgh

Key points:

  • Day one of the Kent County Show begins at Detling Showground near Maidstone
  • The Duchess of Edinburgh visits the event for the first time in 16 years
  • Organisers expect up to 70,000 visitors over the weekend
  • Farming and rural life are at the centre of the three-day programme
  • Highlights include live camel racing, equine sports, livestock displays and more

Kent County Show opens with royal visit

The Kent County Show returned to Detling near Maidstone on Friday, marking the start of a major three-day celebration of farming, food, and rural living. The event opened with a special visit from the Duchess of Edinburgh, who is attending for the first time in 16 years.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who grew up in Brenchley near Tunbridge Wells and serves as patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO), met with farmers, equine exhibitors, and local businesses on her tour of the showground.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sri Aurobindo

Heehs’s biography is grounded in extensive archival research across France, England, India and Israel

AMG

Sri Aurobindo and the rise of the Asian century

Dinesh Sharma

My friend and colleague, the American historian Peter Heehs, who has lived in Pondicherry, India, for decades, recently published a compelling new biography, The Mother: A Life of Sri Aurobindo’s Collaborator (2025). Heehs previously authored The Lives of Sri Aurobindo (2008), which remains one of the most balanced and scholarly accounts of Aurobindo’s life.

According to Heehs, most previous biographies of the Mother were written for devotees and relied on secondary sources, often presenting her as a divine incarnation without critical engagement. “Such biographies are fine for those who see the Mother as a divine being,” Heehs said, “but they can be off-putting for readers who simply want to understand her life – as an artist, writer, spiritual teacher, and founder of the Ashram and Auroville.”

Keep ReadingShow less
© Copyright 2025 Garavi Gujarat Publications Ltd & Asian Media Group USA Inc