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Oscar Winner A. R. Rahman's Chicago Concert Tickets Sell for $1,050 Each

Some of the tickets for Oscar winner A.R. Rahman's (Slumdog Millionaire) Chicago (USA) June 18 "Jai Ho Concert" are now selling for US$1,050 (about Indian Rupees 47,700) per person on his official website.

This "Jai Ho Circle" ticket includes: no waiting in line - express entry, separate entrance on green carpet, and pre-show service of non-alcoholic beverages and snacks. The lowest price ticket available (for Section 206) for this Concert costs US$54.50 (about Indian Rupees 2,475). The concert will be held in the Sears Center and there is a limit of eight tickets per order.

Acclaimed Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, urged Rahman to lower the price of the bottom ticket to US$20 so that all his fans could enjoy his Concert in these times of recession. Zed, who is the chairperson of the Indo-American Leadership Confederation, however, commended Rahman for taking the Indian music to new heights and bringing respect and international recognition to Indian film music.

The "A.R. Rahman Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour" kicks off at the Nassau Coliseum (New York, USA) on June 11 spanning 16 major cities worldwide, and ending at Wembley Stadium (London, UK) on July 26. Additional dates may be announced.

During this period, he will reportedly have live concerts in USA, Canada, Netherlands, France, Norway, and United Kingdom; covering the cities of Uniondale (New York), Atlantic City, Washington DC, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Amsterdam, Paris, Oslo, Glasgow, Manchester, and London.

Well known choreographer-director Amy Tinkham, who has worked on the concerts of the likes of Paul McCartney, Madonna, Britney Spears, Dixie Chicks, Motley Crue, etc., will reportedly be associated with Rahman's concerts, which are said to include acrobatics, new technologies, fascinating dance arrangements, changing sets, LED screens, and global cast of dancers and musicians. It is termed as a "virtual journey through beauty, culture, and spirituality" and also as "theatrical experience" utilizing "new technologies."

Rahman, who has reportedly recorded sales of over 300 million, was called "Mozart of Madras'' by Time magazine. Rahman sees music "as a way to connect to spirituality and embrace it" and for "creating harmony in troubled times".